Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 April 2026
Correspondence from Minister Hodgson - RSV Vaccine Expansion
Summary
Minister Hodgson informs the Health and Social Care Committee that the government has implemented JCVI advice from June 2025, expanding RSV vaccination eligibility on the NHS from 1 April 2026 to include adults aged 80+ and all care home residents. Vaccinations can be administered year-round, with spring 2026 co-administration with COVID-19 vaccines encouraged.
Key findings
- RSV vaccination eligibility extended on 1 April 2026 to adults aged 80+ and all residents in care homes for older adults
- Government accepted JCVI advice from June 2025 for year-round older adult RSV programme
- Spring 2026 COVID-19 campaign enables co-administration of RSV and COVID-19 vaccines at single appointments
- Unvaccinated adults aged 75–79 and pregnant women from 28 weeks remain eligible for RSV vaccination
- Minister requests committee chair promote RSV vaccination to constituents ahead of winter RSV circulation increase
Tone
ProceduralTopics
public-healthvaccinationolder-adultsinfectious-disease
Key actors
Sharon Hodgson MP, Layla Moran MP, JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation), NHS England
Notable line
“RSV vaccines can be administered at any point in the year, but the timing of this extension means that those eligible for both RSV and COVID-19 vaccinations can get both vaccines at the same appointment during the spring 2026 …”
Key Quotes
“… the Government has accepted the JCVI's advice from June 2025 for the year-round older adult programme and implemented this advice on 1 April 2026 by extending the eligibility criteria for RSV vaccinations on the NHS to include those aged 80 years and older, and all residents in care homes for older adults”
“RSV vaccinations will also continue to be offered to unvaccinated adults aged 75 to 79, and pregnant women from 28-weeks of pregnancy to protect newborn babies during the first months of their life”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗