RSV vaccine added to national program

The Federal Government has announced a ‘world-leading approach’ to ensure nationwide protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as the maternal vaccine is added to the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
 
Slated for a 2025 rollout, the maternal RSV vaccine Abrysvo will be available for pregnant people ahead of the winter season to ensure ‘every single infant in Australia is protected’.
 
The RACGP welcomed the announcement, which falls into line with the college’s persistent advocacy efforts to see a RSV vaccine made more accessible.
 
The $174.5 million investment follows the rollout of state and territory programs to support national access to the monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab (sold as Beyfortus) to protect babies from hospitalisation due to the virus.  
 Without the NIP listing, the RSV vaccines would cost around $300 each.
 
RSV rates are continuing to skyrocket across Australia, with 165,910 recorded so far this year, compared to 128,117 in the entirety of 2023, and 95,959 in 2022.
 
Of the cases recorded in 2024, 49.5% were in children under four years old, and a further 8.5% were in children aged between five and nine.
 
New South Wales has been hardest hit by the virus with 42.3% of all cases recorded in the state, followed by 23.2% in Queensland, and 18% in Victoria.
 
The news comes in the wake of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recently knocking back a request for the infant vaccine to be added to the NIP, and recommendations prior to that for the maternal vaccine to be added.
 
Following ongoing calls for greater access to the vaccines, RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins applauded the Government for listening to health experts and parents.
 
‘This is a fantastic initiative that will help keep babies safe and save expectant families money,’ Dr Higgins said.
 
‘We have been calling for governments to take action to keep babies safe from hospitalisation due to RSV, and parents deserve support to keep their new babies safe.
 
‘The last thing any new parent wants is to go back into hospital with a sick baby. It’s a big fear and a real source of stress for new parents.
 
‘Immunisation is the best way to prevent infants from being hospitalised due to RSV, and that stress for new parents.’
 
One of those parents is Dr Rochelle Oei, a GP and mum from Orange, NSW, whose newborn son Zach spent 15 days in hospital in April with severe RSV after being airlifted to Sydney Children's Hospital, including time in intensive care.
 
Having previously called for expansion of the potentially lifesaving vaccine, Dr Oei said she is ‘relieved and overjoyed’ by the Government’s investment.
 
‘This will be particularly life changing for the many Australians who live in regional and rural areas who will hopefully not need to be separated from their family to be flown to a tertiary hospital for respiratory support,’ she said.
 
‘It will be life-changing for … GPs who don’t have enough on the day appointment slots to see all those with viral symptoms who call first thing in the morning.
 
‘For EDs run off their feet during the winter months and have not only a packed department but a packed waiting room, for hospitals and ICUs that are bed-blocked in winter and can’t admit new patients.
 
‘And most of all, for families around Australia, who as a result of the program may not have to see their little one sick in ICU.’
 
In Australia, severe RSV infections are responsible for around 12,000 babies being admitted to hospital each year, with around half of notifications among children aged under five, and infants under six months at greatest risk.
 
These figures come as cases of whooping cough also reach record highs, with GPs reminded to ensure patients’ vaccinations are up to date.
 
Dr Higgins said there is some complacency around the seriousness of RSV for young children.
 
‘Hospitalisation due to lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV is a bigger risk than many people expect,’ she said.
 
‘It’s important we do all we can to ensure their immune systems are ready.’
 
RSV immunisations have been shown to reduce hospitalisation rates by up to 90%, and an estimated 10,000 infants are expected to be kept out of hospital each year with the free national access to the vaccine.
 
Maternal immunisation reduces the risk of severe RSV disease in infants less than six months of age by around 70%, with the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommending Abrysvo immunisation for mothers at 28–36 weeks’ gestation.
 
Safety data on both nirsevimab and Abrysvo has also been welcomed, says RACGP President-elect Dr Michael Wright.
 
‘The efficacy and safety data for this vaccine during pregnancy and for monoclonal antibodies for newborns has been very reassuring,’ he said.
 
‘There are so many things new parents have to think about, so free immunisation against RSV means one less worry for parents.
 
‘We also encourage the Government to work with GPs and the RACGP to make sure practices receive the supply and distribution of vaccines their patients need.’
 
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Abrysvo Beyfortus immunisations National Immunisation Program respiratory syncytial virus RSV vaccine