Researchers from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, have launched an online guidance tool designed to help Western Australian families and health-care providers understand their options for protecting babies and young children against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Designed to help parents understand which RSV vaccines or immunisations they are eligible for as part of Australia’s new RSV Maternal and Infant Immunisation Program, the guidance tool provides users with recommendations based on answers provided to a series of questions, such as stage of pregnancy, the time of year and family background.
The tool then provides information according to criteria set by the WA Department of Health, letting parents know their eligibility for a vaccine given to pregnant women and/or a monoclonal antibody for the baby at or after birth.
Easing family vax confusion
Associate Professor Hannah Moore, Co-Head of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology team at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases and Associate Professor with the School of Population Health at Curtin University, says the guidance tool was developed in response to many families finding it hard to interpret the newly launched RSV immunisation program.
“In discussions with our RSV Community Reference Group, we realised how complex it would be for families to understand what the new immunisations were, and which one was best suited for their own situation,” says Associate Professor Moore.
“While both the RSV vaccine in pregnancy and immunisation for newborns offer excellent protection for young babies vulnerable to potentially serious RSV infections in their first few months of life, it can be confusing to work out which one you may be eligible for.
“We wanted a way that not only simplifies the information but also pin-points users in the right direction with their own tailor-made recommendations, backed up by the evidence and reasoning as to why this was the best option for them.”
‘Empowering the community to make their own decisions’
Mathematical Modeller Fiona Giannini, who led the tool’s development, says the tool can generate up to 200 unique combinations of answers.
“We also hope this tool will help empower the community to make their own decisions when it comes to providing their baby with the best possible protection against RSV,” says Ms Giannini.
The RSV Immunisation Guidance Tool was developed as part of the STAMP-RSV Program, funded by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.
For more information, visit: thekids.org.au/projects/the-stamp-rsv-program/rsv-immunisation-guidance-tool
