What is RSV?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common and highly infectious respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and children, but the severity of illness can vary.

It can cause breathing difficulties and may occasionally result in severe lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs), bronchiolitis (infection of the small airways of the lungs) and other life-threatening conditions.

For babies, RSV can cause bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways of the lung, which makes breathing harder and causes difficulty feeding. RSV is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in the first year of life.

In older adults, RSV is an important cause of acute respiratory illness. It can cause breathing difficulties and may occasionally result in severe lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs). 

Find out more information about RSV.

A new RSV programme

On 24 June 2024, the Scottish Government circulated a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) letter providing detail of the new RSV programme in Scotland.

For infants

An infant protection programme is being delivered through a year-round maternal vaccination programme, given to pregnant woman from 28 weeks of pregnancy.

This will start in August 2024. 

For those over 75

A vaccination programme for those over 75 years of age will also be delivered year round.

This will include offering the RSV vaccine to everyone turning 75 years old on or after 1 August 2024, up to and including 31 July 2025.

For the first year of the programme, the vaccine will also be offered to those who are already aged 75 to 79 years on 1 August 2024.

This means individuals will be offered the vaccine if their date of birth is between 2 August 1944 and 31 July 1950 inclusively.