Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to coordinate the roll out of (a) the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine and (b) other vaccines across all English regions to maximise effectiveness.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes for pregnant women, to protect newborns, and adults aged 75 to 79 years old began in England on 1 September 2024. The programmes are being delivered by general practices and commissioned maternity services, as well as a small number of community pharmacies in the East of England. General practices are responsible for proactively inviting aged-based eligible patients for vaccination, and for providing the vaccine to eligible patients from 28 weeks of pregnancy, either opportunistically or on request. RSV vaccinations are offered to eligible individuals year-round, rather than seasonally, though vaccination should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity to maximise protection against RSV.

NHS England continues to focus on maximising vaccine uptake across both seasonal and routine vaccination programmes, including by improving access to vaccinations through outreach services, improving the National Booking Service, and working across the system to ensure coadministration of vaccines wherever possible and advisable. This approach supports the healthcare system to take every opportunity to vaccinate those who are eligible and to maximise the uptake of all vaccines.

For older adults, whilst the RSV vaccine is not routinely given at the same appointment or on the same day as seasonal flu or COVID-19 vaccines, if the individual is unlikely to return for a second appointment or immediate protection is necessary then the RSV vaccine can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 and/or flu vaccine. Older adults can get the RSV vaccine at the same time as the shingles and pneumococcal vaccines where eligible.

The RSV and pertussis vaccines are not routinely scheduled at the same time during pregnancy. However, if a pertussis-containing vaccine has not been given to pregnant women by the time of attendance for an RSV vaccine, both vaccines can and should be given at the same appointment to ensure prompt development of immune response. The seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at any time in pregnancy when the campaigns are running, and at the same time as the pertussis and RSV vaccines.

Healthcare professionals should take the opportunity to check immunisation status and offer or signpost vaccination where possible. Maternity services commissioned to deliver the maternal RSV programme are also encouraged to have vaccination discussions with pregnant women early in pregnancy.