Spring is a good time to refresh your protection if you’re more at risk from COVID‑19. The spring booster helps to top up your immunity and lowers the risk of becoming seriously unwell.
The spring vaccination programme runs from 13 April to 30 June 2026.
Who can have the spring booster?
The spring booster is offered to people who are more likely to get seriously ill from the virus. You will be eligible if you:
- Are aged 75 or over (including anyone turning 75 before 30 June 2026)
- Live in an care home for older adults
- Are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system (for example, due to a health condition or treatment like chemotherapy)
Why the booster matters
Immunity reduces over time, even if you’ve had COVID‑19 or previous doses. The spring vaccination can:
- Lower your chance of becoming seriously unwell
- Help you recover more quickly if you do catch the virus
- Reduce the risk of needing hospital care
Aged 75 and over – have you had your RSV vaccination?
All over 75s are now eligible for the RSV vaccine, to help protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV can cause pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions. Older adults are at greater risk.
We will be offering this to eligible patients along with your COVID booster. Please ensure you read the information below before booking your appointment.
Side effects from the RSV vaccine
You may get some soreness, redness or swelling at the site of the injection for a day or two after the vaccination.
Over 12 million doses have been given to older adults in the USA and UK.
A rare, but serious, nervous system condition known as Guillain-Barré syndrome that leads to weakness has been reported, around 1 case for every 40,000 to 100,000 doses given, in the 6 weeks after vaccination. The same condition also occurs after a number of common infections and some vaccines. If you have symptoms such as tingling, numbness, weakness, sharp pain or pins and needles in your hands, feet, arms or legs, you should seek immediate medical attention. Overall it is thought to be safer for those in high risk groups to have the vaccine than to risk having a potentially serious RSV infection.
You can find more information in the links below.
Your guide to the RSV vaccine for older adults – GOV.UK
How to get your vaccination with us
After reading this information:
- If you are happy to have both vaccines together please book an appointment for “COVID and RSV”. These will be 10 minute appointments – 5 minutes longer than appointments just for COVID boosters – so you need to be sure you want both vaccines before you book or else there will be wasted clinician time, and potentially wasted vaccines as they may be made up ahead of the clinic.
- If you are unsure whether you want the RSV vaccination at this time, please just book an appointment for a COVID booster on its own.
We will contact eligible patients directly with details of clinic dates and how to book your appointment.
If you live in a care home, the vaccination visits will be arranged together with your care home staff.
Before you book
Please try and leave around six months since your last COVID‑19 vaccination.