In June 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) issued a short statement advising the introduction of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) programme. A full statement was subsequently published in September 2023.
For older adults, the committee advised a routine year-round programme for those turning 75 years of age alongside a catch-up campaign covering several age cohorts. The need for further doses for vaccinated cohorts would be evaluated using surveillance data, with trial evidence to date suggesting protection for at least 2 to 3 years.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) accepted the advice of JCVI and a routine programme for those turning 75 years of age, with a one-off campaign to vaccinate older adults aged 75 to 79 years, began on 1 September 2024. Since the introduction of the programme, over 1.3 million doses have been administered with emerging evidence showing a significant impact on the incidence of RSV hospitalisations.
When advising on the introduction of the RSV programme, the committee stated that an extension to the initial programmes would be considered when there was more certainty about:
- protection for individuals at higher risk of severe illness from RSV, including people aged 80 years of age and older
- the real-world impact of the programme for those aged 75 to 80 years old
