Private RSV Vaccination Service
What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and who’s at risk?
RSV is a virus which causes respiratory illness and is mainly spread through coughing and sneezing, and contact with an infected person or contaminated surface.
For most people, symptoms can include:
• A runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion
• A cough
• A fever
RSV infections usually get better by themselves, but can sometimes be serious for babies and older adults. For small babies, RSV may lead to other conditions such as bronchiolitis, which can make it difficult for them to breathe and feed. In severe cases, this can require intensive care and could potentially be fatal.
In the elderly, the illness can be more serious than in the general adult population and can lead to hospitalisation. RSV has been estimated to account for around 5,000 deaths in older adults in England and Wales every winter, the vast majority of which occur in adults over 75 years*
Here's what you need to know
How can Boots help?
At Boots, we will soon be offering a private RSV Vaccination Service13, providing a single dose of RSV vaccination to eligible customers.
The service is suitable for anyone who’s either:
• Aged 60 years and above, or;
• Pregnant and aged 18 years and above
The service isn't suitable for anyone who's:
• Had an allergic reaction to any injections or vaccinations in the past
This isn’t a complete list and suitability will be checked at the appointment.
Our private RSV Vaccination Service uses an RSV vaccination called Abrysvo®, which is provided as a single dose. There are other brands of RSV vaccinations available which may be used by other providers. The cost for the private vaccination service is £245.
Can I get vaccinated on the NHS/HSC?
In England, since 1st September 2024, a free NHS RSV vaccination is available for :
- Pregnant individuals to provide passive protection of the infant from birth to 6 months**
- Adults aged between 75 and 79 years (who remain eligible up to and including the day before their 80th birthday)
- Those turning 75 years of age will be eligible from on or after their 75th birthday
- Adults who turn 80 years of age between 2 September 2024 and 31 August 2025 (will remain eligible up to and including 31 August 2025)
Further information can be found here. Other countries may also offer a free NHS/HSC RSV Vaccination. Speak with your local Boots Pharmacy or GP for information.
Book an appointment online or in-store
This service is offered at selected Boots stores across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales.
Attend your appointment
The healthcare professional will talk to you about possible side effects before the vaccination is administered and answer any questions you may have. The vaccination will be given in the upper arm, so it would be helpful for you to wear short sleeves or loose sleeves that can be rolled up.
Receive your vaccination
Our clinician will give you the vaccination and advise you to stay in the pharmacy for 5 minutes, in case of immediate side effects.
*RSV vaccination of older adults: information for healthcare practitioners-Gov.uk
**Specific eligibility criteria apply.
13Eligibility criteria apply. Selected UK Boots pharmacies, subject to availability. Please note this is not an NHS service. Charges may apply.
10Eligibility criteria and charges apply. In most Boots pharmacies, subject to availability. People aged 65 and over are also eligible for a free NHS pneumonia vaccination. If you’re over 65 and haven’t already had the NHS vaccination, speak to your doctor about having this. It’s a different type of vaccination to the one used in the Boots service so you may want to consider having both to further increase your protection against pneumonia. You may also be eligible for the NHS vaccination if you are under 65 and are living with a long-term health condition such as diabetes. The Boots Pneumonia Vaccination Service does not replace the need for the NHS vaccination.
37Charges apply. Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria may apply. Unless pregnant, it's recommended that adults should get vaccinated in October or November, to maximise protection during the peak flu months. Protection from the vaccine can decrease over time in adults, but it’s advised that pregnant women can be vaccinated from September.
