Vaccinations
Private RSV Vaccination
A single dose for older adults who want protection against a common cause of winter chest infection.
- Doses
- Single dose
- Age
- Adults 60 and over
- Referral
- No GP referral needed
- Timing
- Best before winter
About this service
Respiratory syncytial virus is a common winter infection that most people shrug off as a cold, but in older adults and in people with heart or lung conditions it can cause bronchitis and pneumonia and lead to hospital admission. At Berkeley Pharmacy we offer private RSV vaccination for adults aged 60 and over who fall outside the NHS eligibility criteria, with no GP referral needed. Because protection is best in place before the RSV season begins, late summer and early autumn are the ideal time to book.
We take the time to review your age, health conditions and current medicines, and we will always tell you if you are eligible on the NHS rather than charge you privately. We welcome older adults from Berkeley, Dursley, Cam, Sharpness, Thornbury and across Gloucestershire, and RSV can often be given at the same appointment as a flu vaccination.
What RSV is and how the vaccine helps
Respiratory syncytial virus is a common respiratory infection that circulates mainly in autumn and winter. In healthy adults it usually causes a cold-like illness, but in older adults and in people with heart or lung conditions it can cause bronchitis and pneumonia and lead to hospital admission. In babies it is the main cause of bronchiolitis.
The vaccine is given as a single dose and is licensed for adults aged 60 and over, and one formulation is also licensed in pregnancy from 28 weeks to protect the baby in its first months. The NHS offers RSV vaccination to a defined age group of older adults and to pregnant women, so private vaccination is mainly for people who fall outside those criteria. Protection is best in place before the RSV season begins, so late summer and early autumn are the ideal time.
Who this service is for
Suitable for
- Adults aged 60 and over who fall outside the NHS eligibility criteria
- Older adults with long term heart, lung, liver or kidney conditions
- People with diabetes or a weakened immune system, following assessment
- Grandparents and others in close contact with young babies
- Anyone who has had a bad winter chest infection before and wants to reduce the risk
Not suitable for
- Adults under 60, for whom the vaccine is not licensed
- Previous severe allergic reaction to this vaccine or its ingredients
- Anyone currently unwell with a high temperature, who should wait
- People who have already had a dose, as repeat dosing is not currently recommended
How it works
A simple, consistent process for every service at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Get in touch
Call us or use our contact form to arrange a consultation.
Consultation
A private, face-to-face appointment with our pharmacist in our Berkeley consultation room.
Clinical assessment
We review your medical history and confirm whether the service is suitable for you.
Treatment or referral
If it is suitable we treat you the same day; if not, we explain why and advise on the best next step.
What to expect at your appointment
Your appointment begins with a consultation covering your age, health conditions and current medicines, with a clear explanation of what RSV is, who it affects most and what the vaccine can and cannot do.
- The injection into your upper arm
- A short wait afterwards
- A written record and, with your consent, a note to your GP
- This can often be given at the same appointment as a flu vaccination
Aftercare and safety
A sore arm, tiredness, headache and muscle aches for a day or two are the most common effects and settle by themselves. The vaccine does not protect against flu or COVID-19, so keep those up to date separately, and good hand hygiene and staying away from people with coughs and colds still help.
- Seek medical advice for a chesty cough with breathlessness, a high temperature or confusion, particularly in older adults
- Contact us if you are unsure whether you are eligible on the NHS, as we will always tell you if you are
- Call us on 01453 810316 if you have any questions after your appointment
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the RSV vaccine on the NHS?
The NHS offers RSV vaccination to a defined age group of older adults and to pregnant women from 28 weeks. Eligibility depends on your exact age and the current programme criteria, so if you think you may qualify we will check for you and tell you honestly, rather than charge you privately.
Can I pay for the RSV vaccine if I am not eligible?
Yes. Private RSV vaccination is mainly for adults aged 60 and over who fall outside the NHS eligibility criteria. If you are under 60 the vaccine is not licensed, so we would not be able to offer it, and we will explain why and advise on the best next step.
How many doses of the RSV vaccine do I need?
A single dose is recommended, and repeat dosing is not currently advised. Unlike the flu jab, which is needed every year, one dose of RSV vaccine is expected to provide protection for at least a season and beyond, though guidance may change as we learn more.
When is the best time of year to have it?
Protection is best in place before the RSV season begins, so late summer and early autumn are the ideal time to book. We can still help later in the season, but having it ahead of the winter peak gives your immunity time to develop before circulation is at its highest.
Can I have it at the same time as my flu jab?
Yes, RSV can often be given at the same appointment as a flu vaccination, which saves you an extra visit. We will advise on the best timing for any combined appointments and make sure your records are kept up to date.
Does the RSV vaccine protect against flu or COVID-19?
No, the RSV vaccine only protects against respiratory syncytial virus. It does not protect against flu or COVID-19, so you should keep those vaccinations up to date separately. We can advise on the best timing if you are planning more than one.
How we can supply treatment without a GP appointment
Some treatments at Berkeley Pharmacy are supplied under a Patient Group Direction, or PGD – a written instruction, signed by a doctor and a pharmacist, that legally allows our trained pharmacists to supply and administer specified medicines to people who meet defined clinical criteria, without a prescription from your GP. If you do not meet the criteria set out in the PGD we cannot supply the treatment, and we will explain why and advise you on the best next step. Our pharmacists also work as independent prescribers where that is appropriate.
Serving Berkeley and the surrounding Gloucestershire villages
Berkeley Pharmacy is on Market Place in the centre of Berkeley, with easy access from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5. We welcome patients from Berkeley, Sharpness, Newport, Berkeley Heath, Alkington, Ham, Stone and Rockhampton, and we are a short drive from Cam, Dursley, Slimbridge, Cambridge, Falfield, Charfield, Tortworth, Cromhall, Oldbury-on-Severn, Wotton-under-Edge, Thornbury, Frampton on Severn and Stonehouse. Patients also travel to us from Stroud, Nailsworth, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Gloucester.
Safe, regulated care from your local pharmacy team
- Berkeley Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy or pharmacist on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
- Every consultation is face to face and private, in our dedicated consultation room – not an online questionnaire.
- Serving the Berkeley community for over 25 years.
- This service does not replace care from your GP. With your consent we will inform your GP of any treatment provided. If you are unwell, have new or worsening symptoms, or need urgent care, contact your GP or NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
- If you experience a side effect from any medicine you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: September 2026. Next review due: September 2027.
Related services
Other services you may be interested in at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Shingles Vaccination
A two dose course for adults aged 50 and over who are not yet eligible on the NHS.
Find out more VaccinationsMeningitis B Vaccination
Protection against the most common cause of meningococcal disease in the UK, for those outside the NHS programme.
Find out more VaccinationsChickenpox Vaccination
A two dose course for children and adults who have not had chickenpox, available privately in Berkeley.
Find out moreSpeak to our pharmacy team about rsv vaccination
Visit us in Berkeley or get in touch to arrange a private consultation with our pharmacist.
Book a consultation Call 01453 810316
Address
14 Market Place, Berkeley, GL13 9BB
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed