NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB), University Hospitals
of Leicester and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust are working together this spring to
offer a joined-up COVID-19 and RSV vaccination service in all hospitals.
All eligible in-patients are being offered both their COVID-19 booster and their Respiratory
Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination at the same time, making Leicester, Leicestershire and
Rutland the only NHS system in the Midlands to pilot this approach at scale in hospital
settings.
This collaborative approach, which began on 13 April and will continue until 30 June 2026, is
designed to make vaccination simpler, more convenient and easier to access for people most
at risk of serious respiratory illness.
Dr Nil Sanganee, Medical Director of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and
Northamptonshire Integrated Care Boards, said: “By offering COVID-19 and RSV
vaccinations together, we’re making it as easy as possible for people at greatest risk from
these viruses to get protected. This approach recognises that for many patients, a hospital
stay may be their most reliable point of contact with NHS services. Working closely with our
hospital partners, we’re reducing missed opportunities for vaccination, improving access and
helping to protect patients and our health system from avoidable severe illness.”
Linda Chibuzor, Group chief nurse at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “We have
been offering Covid vaccines to our patients for a number of years, and we are very pleased
to extend this now to RSV vaccinations for those aged 75 and over. It will ensure the most
vulnerable and frail patients in our community hospitals - alongside those who are being
discharged to a care home for older adults; and those eligible in our mental health wards - are
protected from further illness, including severe respiratory conditions.”
Benjamin Hyde, Senior Operational Lead for Vaccinations at University Hospitals of Leicester
NHS Trust, said: “We are very pleased to be part of this collaborative approach, which brings
clear benefits for our inpatients by making it easier to receive added protection against RSV
alongside their COVID-19 vaccination. We see first-hand the impact respiratory illnesses can
have, so improving access to these highly effective vaccines is an important step in protecting
those most at risk. It’s fantastic to be working closely with our partners on this initiative, and
we are proud to be among the first systems in the country to deliver this approach.”
Patients who are offered the vaccines during their hospital stay can still choose to receive
them through GP practices, community pharmacies or other NHS vaccination services, if that
is their preference.
Learning from the pilot service will help inform future vaccination services, both locally and
across the region. This pilot builds on close collaboration between the ICB and local NHS
trusts, embedding vaccination opportunities into routine hospital care wherever possible.
For more information about the COVID-19 and RSV vaccination programmes, including
eligibility and local vaccination options, visit: https://www.llrvaccinations.nhs.uk/
-EndsFor further information contact: llricb-llr.pressoffice@nhs.net
Editors Notes
The current COVID-19 vaccination programme runs from 13 April to 30 June 2026 and is
targeted at:
- people aged 75 years and over
- residents of care homes for older adults
- people aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed
The RSV vaccine is available all year round, it protects people most at risk from a serious
lung infection that can lead to hospitalisation or death. It’s a one-off vaccination that offers
long-lasting protection and is an important addition to life-course vaccination in England.
The LLR ICB is the NHS organisation responsible for planning, arranging and ensuring the
availability and quality of health services to local people.
For further information visit: https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk
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