Regulatory Update for Care Providers: 24 September 2026
This week's key regulatory and sector developments from UKHSA and NHS England
Keeping up with regulatory and sector developments is essential for care providers. This week's update focuses on COVID-19 and RSV vaccination, infection prevention and control, and winter preparedness as care homes prepare for the months ahead.
This Week at a Glance
Organisation | Update |
UKHSA | The 2026 autumn COVID-19 vaccination programme begins in October, including eligible residents in care homes for older people. |
NHS England | Winter Planning 2026/27 highlights early preparation, coordinated working and infection prevention and control across health and social care. |
UKHSA | RSV vaccination eligibility has expanded, with all adults living in care homes for older adults now eligible for vaccination. |
1. COVID-19 autumn vaccination programme includes care-home residents
Published: 9 September 2026 | UK Health Security Agency
The 2026 autumn COVID-19 vaccination programme will run from October, with vaccination offered to people at higher risk of serious illness. This includes residents in care homes for older people, alongside people aged 75 and over and people aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed.
For care providers, the start of the autumn programme provides an opportunity to review arrangements for supporting eligible residents with vaccination before winter respiratory pressures increase.
What does this mean for care providers?
Providers can consider:
Identifying residents who are eligible for the autumn COVID-19 vaccination
Making sure vaccination arrangements are in place
Checking that vaccination records are accurate and up to date
Communicating with residents, families and relevant healthcare professionals where appropriate
Reviewing infection prevention and control arrangements ahead of winter
Vaccination planning should form part of wider preparation for respiratory illness and winter pressures.
The key question for providers
Are your arrangements in place to support eligible residents before the autumn COVID-19 vaccination programme begins?
Official source: GOV.UK: A guide to the COVID-19 autumn vaccination
2. NHS winter planning highlights infection prevention and care-home preparedness
Published: 17 July 2026 | NHS England
NHS England's Winter Planning 2026/27 guidance sets out expectations for preparation across health and social care ahead of winter.
The guidance emphasises early, coordinated planning and specifically includes infection prevention and control in care homes and the wider care sector. It also highlights social care and intermediate care capacity, discharge planning and proactive support for people who may be more vulnerable to winter viruses and cold weather.
What does this mean for care providers?
Care homes can use the guidance as an opportunity to review their wider winter preparedness.
Providers can consider:
Whether infection prevention and control arrangements are effective
Whether respiratory illness and outbreak procedures are up to date
Whether staffing and service resilience have been considered
Whether vaccination arrangements are in place for residents
How effectively the care home communicates with local health and social care services
Whether current procedures can support increased winter pressures
Winter preparation is not only about responding to outbreaks. It also involves making sure systems, staffing and communication are ready before demand increases.
The key question for providers
Is your care home prepared for the increased pressure that winter may bring?
Official source: NHS England: Winter planning 2026/27 – expectations and assurance
3. RSV vaccination now available to all adults living in care homes for older adults
Updated: 11 August 2026 | UK Health Security Agency
From 1 September 2026, the RSV vaccination programme has expanded. A single RSV vaccine dose should be offered to any adult residing in, or moving into, a care home for older adults, regardless of age, if they have not previously received an eligible dose. The programme is year-round and ongoing.
Care-home admission also provides an opportunity to check a person's vaccination status and offer vaccination where appropriate.
What should care providers check?
Care homes should review residents' RSV vaccination status and work with the appropriate healthcare professionals to ensure eligible residents are offered vaccination.
Providers can consider:
Checking which residents are eligible for RSV vaccination
Reviewing vaccination records for existing residents
Checking vaccination status when new residents move into the care home
Working with healthcare professionals to arrange vaccination
Including RSV vaccination checks within wider winter preparedness
Using vaccination appointments as an opportunity to review residents' wider respiratory vaccination needs
The RSV vaccine can also be administered alongside COVID-19 vaccination where appropriate.
The key question for providers
Have you checked which residents are eligible for RSV vaccination and whether their vaccination status is up to date?
Official source: GOV.UK: RSV vaccination of older adults – information for healthcare practitioners
Takeaways for Care Providers
Review vaccination arrangements
COVID-19 and RSV vaccination programmes provide care homes with opportunities to check eligibility, vaccination status and arrangements for residents before winter pressures increase.
Strengthen infection prevention and control
Winter readiness should include reviewing respiratory illness procedures, outbreak arrangements and infection prevention and control systems to ensure they can work effectively when demand increases.
Prepare before winter pressures increase
Winter planning involves more than responding to outbreaks. Staffing, communication, vaccination, escalation and coordination with health and social care partners all form part of effective preparation.
Key takeaway
Winter readiness starts before winter.
The latest guidance highlights a common theme: care providers can take practical steps now to prepare for the months ahead.
Whether it is supporting eligible residents with COVID-19 and RSV vaccination, reviewing infection prevention and control arrangements or checking wider winter preparedness, the focus should be on making sure systems are ready, understood and working in practice.
Take a moment this week to ask:
“Are our vaccination arrangements, infection-control procedures and wider winter preparations ready for the months ahead?”
Related CareLearner Resources
Infection Prevention and Control Level 2 A course covering infection prevention, transmission, hand hygiene, PPE, environmental cleaning, outbreak management and monitoring compliance.
Risk Assessment Helps care staff understand how to identify hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate control measures as part of safe, person-centred care.
Disclaimer
Regulatory and sector updates are provided for general information and should be considered alongside the latest guidance and requirements applicable to your organisation. Always refer to the original source for full details and the most up-to-date information.
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