Immunisation advocates are heralding the Albanese Government’s commitment to the first all-infant RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) immunisation program as a turning point on the leading cause of hospitalisation for Australian babies.
According to the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, nationwide availability of new RSV immunisations – for use by either pregnant women or babies – will keep up to 10,000 infants out of hospital with related bronchiolitis or pneumonia each year.
“Severe RSV is responsible for around 12,000 babies being admitted to hospital each winter,” said Catherine Hughes AM, Founder and Director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia.
“The immunisations being funded in Australia protect babies against severe RSV and have been shown to slash hospitalisation rates by up to 90 per cent,” she said.
Ms Hughes says that after extensive campaigning by the Immunisation Foundation of Australia and its supporters, “the Federal Government has listened and acted”.
“This is a monumental milestone for preventative health. We applaud Minister Butler for ensuring all Australian babies are protected against severe RSV,” she said.
Western Australia was the first Australian state to introduce an all-infant RSV immunisation program with the antibody therapy Beyfortus. During the 2024 RSV season, more than 23,000 infants received RSV protection, resulting in up to 84 per cent fewer RSV-related hospitalisations in immunised newborns, compared to those who were not RSV protected.4 Similar outcomes were reported in Queensland, which commenced a statewide infant RSV immunisation program with Beyfortus in April 2024.
“The exceptional results in Western Australia and Queensland contrast sharply with other parts of Australia where hospitals were overwhelmed by babies struggling to breathe due to severe RSV,” Ms Hughes said.
Set for rollout in 2025, Australia’s first national infant RSV immunisation program will offer pregnant women a vaccine known as Abrysvo or allow newborns and infants approaching the RSV season to be administered Beyfortus.
“In offering two different infant RSV immunisation approaches, Australia can maximise uptake by catering to different family needs and varying health system dynamics, becoming a world leader in RSV protection,” Ms Hughes said.
“The Immunisation Foundation of Australia will focus on supporting acceptance of these groundbreaking immunisations to keep babies out of hospital and at home where they belong.”
