RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. It is a very common respiratory virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms but can sometimes lead to serious infections of the lungs and airways.

Some medical conditions or treatments can make a person more vulnerable to serious illness if they develop RSV.

If you are under 60 and believe you may be at increased risk, the pharmacist will assess your medical history and individual circumstances against the clinical criteria for the vaccination service.

Eligibility cannot be confirmed until this clinical assessment has taken place.

That last FAQ is deliberately non-specific. The PGD rather than the SmPC should determine precisely which conditions Dears can accept through the actual service, so ChatGPT wouldn’t publish a long list of qualifying conditions until we have those inclusion criteria. The screenshot you’ve supplied confirms the Arexvy age rules, but not enough of the risk-condition criteria to safely reproduce them.

And one correction to the first draft: I’d now remove the suggestion that Dears offers private maternal RSV vaccination unless the client specifically confirms that they do. Abrysvo has a pregnancy indication, but that does not establish that the Dears PGD/service includes it.

Yes, if you meet the current NHS Scotland eligibility criteria.

For 2026/27, vaccination is being offered to people aged 75 and over who have not previously been vaccinated, people living in care homes for older adults and people aged 65 to 74 with certain eligible health conditions. RSV vaccination is also offered during pregnancy.

NHS eligibility and vaccination arrangements can change, so check current NHS Scotland guidance if you are unsure.

Yes. Dears Pharmacy provides private RSV vaccination at selected locations.

People aged 60 and over can access the service, subject to clinical assessment.

Younger adults may also be eligible if they are considered to be at increased risk from RSV. Depending on the vaccine that is appropriate, vaccination may be available to higher-risk adults from either 50 years of age or 18 years of age.

A healthcare professional will assess your individual circumstances and determine whether vaccination is appropriate.

Yes. RSV vaccination during pregnancy helps protect your baby against serious RSV infection after birth.

In Scotland, NHS RSV vaccination is offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Private vaccination may also be available where clinically appropriate.

If you are pregnant, speak to your midwife or healthcare professional about the best way to receive your vaccination.

Following vaccination, your immune system produces antibodies against RSV. These antibodies can pass through the placenta to your baby before birth.

This helps provide protection during the first months of life, when babies can be particularly vulnerable to serious illness caused by RSV.

No. RSV vaccination for older adults is not currently an annual vaccination.

A single dose is currently recommended and routine revaccination is not presently advised. Recommendations may change as more evidence about the duration of protection becomes available.

For older adults, RSV and flu vaccination are not routinely scheduled for the same appointment because giving them together may reduce the immune response to one or both vaccines.

There is no specific interval that you need to leave between them, so they can be arranged as separate appointments.

Your healthcare professional can advise you about the most appropriate timing for your vaccinations.

RSV and COVID-19 vaccinations can be given at the same appointment where this is clinically appropriate.

Your healthcare professional will review your vaccination history and make sure both vaccinations are suitable for you.

As with other vaccinations, you may experience mild and temporary side effects such as pain, redness or swelling around the injection site, headache or muscle aches.

Your healthcare professional will discuss relevant side effects, precautions and your individual suitability before vaccination.

Yes. No vaccine provides complete protection against infection.

RSV vaccination is intended to reduce your risk of serious illness and complications if you are exposed to the virus.

Dears Pharmacy provides private RSV vaccinations at selected locations across Lothian, Fife, Glasgow and Tayside.

Use the booking form above to find a participating pharmacy and available appointment.