Over-75s in north Wales to be offered RSV and Covid-19 vaccines together
People aged 75 and over in north Wales are being offered respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Covid-19 vaccines together this spring, with over-80s eligible for the RSV jab for the first time.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which covers Flintshire and the rest of north Wales, has expanded the vaccination programme to include everyone aged over 75 with no upper age limit.
People born before September 1944 are being offered the RSV vaccine for the first time.
The jab was introduced for people aged between 75 and 80 in September 2024, but eligibility has now been extended to all over-75s with no upper age cut-off from April 2026.
New research by Public Health Wales has shown the RSV vaccine can reduce the rate of hospitalisation caused by serious illness in older people by up to 75%.
RSV can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia in older adults, causing between 700 and 1,000 hospital admissions among over-75s in Wales each year and up to 9,000 GP appointments annually.
Where possible, both vaccines will be offered at the same appointment at a GP surgery or one of BCUHB’s vaccination centres.
The health board is working with more than 50 GP practices across north Wales to deliver the programme, with the first appointments taking place during the week beginning 13 April.
Eligible patients will be contacted by letter, though some participating GP surgeries may also offer appointments by phone or text.
Invitations will continue to be issued until mid-June.
BCUHB’s vaccination team will contact patients who are housebound to arrange vaccination at home.
Residents in care homes for older adults will also be offered both vaccines.
The Covid-19 vaccine will also be offered to people with a weakened immune system, who will receive an invitation to attend a local community pharmacy or a BCUHB vaccination clinic.
BCUHB said patients should check their invitation letter carefully, as the location of their appointment may differ from where they received previous vaccinations.
The health board said there was no need to contact them directly, as invitations would be issued throughout May and June.
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