Flu and RSV vaccinations 2024-25
Flu
This post aims to be a place for all winter Flu and RSV information to ensure you're ready for the winter season.
Flu Eligibility
Firstly, the flu vaccination programme has been split into two cohorts with different vaccination dates;
From 1 September 2024
- pregnant women
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
- secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
From 3 October 2024
- those aged 65 years and over
- those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in a social care setting
More information on the flu vaccine is available on the 'Flu vaccine' NHS website
Flu Clinics
Eligible patients will be invited via a self-book text message, or where this is not available, via a letter. If you're 65 or over or have a chronic condition or a pregnant, you don't need to wait for a letter to book, just give us a call.
Please note slight changes from previous years.
With these changes the NHS aims to provide better protection against influenza for longer into the season. The cohort being vaccinated in September are not expected to lose protection as quick as the October cohort.
RSV
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds during the winter months. In most people in causes a mild respiratory illness, perfectly manageable. However, a small number of young children and some older adults can develop a more severe respiratory disease and require hospitalisation. In the worst cases it might cause pneumonia and even be fatal.
Please visit the NHS website on RSV or this FAQ for more information.
Therefore, the JCVI has recommended a vaccination programme against the virus, the first of which starts this year in September.
The RSV vaccination is currently a single dose vaccination with no boosters - you will not need an RSV vaccine every year.
RSV eligibilty
There are two cohorts that are targetted and eligible for this vaccination.
Pregnant women to protect infants
All registered patients are eligible from 28 weeks of pregnancy and will remain eligible until birth. However, it is recommended to have had the vaccination by week 36.
Older adults
Registered patients aged between 75 and 80 will be eligible for the vaccination.
There will be a 'catch-up' programme for the following groups to ensure they are vaccinated before they are no longer eligible.
- Older adults aged 79 from 31st August 2024 & those turning 80 before 31st August 2025.
- Older adults aged between 75 and 78. These adults will not be eligible when they turn 80.
And a routine programme for adults who turn 75.
What if I'm over 80?
The government decide which groups will be eligible for free vaccines on the NHS. Their decision is based on the independent advice of clinical experts in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), who review the latest clinical evidence and data, including how long protection lasts and how common RSV infection is within different age groups. The JCVI considered all available information when advising on which age groups would benefit most from having the RSV vaccine and concluded there is limited evidence of efficacy in those aged over 80. The effectiveness of this vaccination programme will be monitored by JCVI and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). If you have any further questions, please email enquiries@ukhsa.gov.uk
RSV Clinics
Although the vaccination will be available throughout the year, the practice will endeavour to vaccinate a significant proportion of the 'catch-up' cohorts in September & October prior to the usual RSV season.