Thousands more people in the East of England who are at risk from a virus which causes pneumonia and other serious lung infections will be able to get vital protection on the NHS this autumn.

From September, all adults aged 65-74 who are living with a chronic respiratory condition or who have a suppressed immune system will be offered the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, as the NHS expands its life-saving programme to protect those who are most vulnerable.

Thousands of people living with COPD, emphysema and cystic fibrosis or who have weakened immune systems caused by other conditions (such as diabetes or blood cancer) or by medical treatments such as chemotherapy will also be able to get the jab from 1 September.

All people aged 75 years and over, pregnant women and all residents in care homes for older adults are already able to get the RSV vaccine now to get protected ahead of this winter. Appointments are available to book online through the NHS website: Get a free RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccination – NHS.

From 1 September, newly eligible people will be able to receive their jab from their local GP practice or, in some parts of Suffolk and Essex, at their local high street pharmacy, to protect themselves from serious illness and hospitalisation.

The roll-out follows the expansion of eligibility earlier this year to all older adults over the age of 80, with latest figures published by NHS England showing over half a million people aged 80 years and over have been given the jab in the past three months alone (543,895). Since 2024, the NHS has also offered the RSV vaccine to pregnant women, helping to protect 300,000 mothers and babies in its first year alone.

Here in the East of England, over 435,900 jabs have been administered since the RSV jab was introduced in September 2024.

RSV is a common virus that infects the lungs. While symptoms are mild for many people, the virus can be severe in older adults, causing pneumonia, bronchitis and flare-ups of existing lung disease and other long-term conditions. This can make it difficult to breathe and leave some older people requiring hospital treatment.

The latest expansion comes after the government accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to expand eligibility for the RSV vaccination programme in England.

The newly eligible groups were identified by JCVI as having a higher risk of severe outcomes from RSV infection, including hospitalisation, particularly during winter when cases peak. JCVI is continuing to review data on RSV vaccination in other adults with underlying health conditions.

The vaccine works by stimulating the body to produce antibodies for the RSV virus by giving a small amount of RSV protein in the jab. This means that when the actual virus enters the body, the immune system can act much quicker to remove the threat.

Dr Eleanor Powers, Head of Public Health Commissioning (Immunisation) for NHS England – East of England, said:

“RSV can be a really serious respiratory illness for older adults and those with underlying respiratory health conditions, or weakened immune systems, with pneumonia and serious lung infections potentially caused by RSV.

“Getting vaccinated now or in September, ahead of winter when there tend to be more bugs circulating, will give you the best possible protection. You only need the jab once in your lifetime, or once each pregnancy, if you are pregnant.

“NHS staff from across the East of England have worked together to make it as easy as possible to get the jab – if you are aged 75 or over or live in a care home for older adults and are yet to get vaccinated, now is the time to come forward to your GP or local pharmacy and get yourself ready for winter.”