Immunisation advocates are celebrating the Albanese Government’s commitment to launching Australia’s first nationwide RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) immunisation program—a major development to reduce infant hospitalisation rates.

The Immunisation Foundation of Australia estimates that making RSV immunisations widely available to either pregnant women or babies could keep up to 10,000 infants out of hospital each year, preventing severe RSV-related cases of bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

“Severe RSV leads to around 12,000 hospital admissions for babies each winter,” says Catherine Hughes AM, Founder and Director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia. “With the new immunisations, we’re looking at a reduction in hospitalisation rates by up to 90 percent.”

A Long-Awaited Milestone in Preventative Health

After years of campaigning by the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, Ms Hughes acknowledges the Federal Government’s responsiveness: “This is a monumental milestone for preventative health. We commend Minister Butler for ensuring every Australian baby will be protected against severe RSV.”

The program, scheduled for a 2025 rollout, will offer two options: Abrysvo (an RSV vaccine for pregnant women) and Beyfortus (an antibody therapy for infants). These options aim to maximise immunisation uptake by accommodating different family and healthcare needs.

Early Successes in Western Australia and Queensland

Western Australia and Queensland have already pioneered RSV immunisation programs, seeing substantial success. In 2024, over 23,000 infants in Western Australia received RSV protection, which led to up to 84 per cent fewer RSV-related hospitalisations among immunised infants. Queensland saw similar outcomes following its own RSV program launch in April 2024.

Ms Hughes notes, “The exceptional outcomes in WA and Queensland contrast starkly with other states, where hospitals faced surges in severe RSV cases.”

Baby Spencer was in hospital for 9 days with severe RSV

What Parents Need to Know About RSV

RSV is the leading cause of hospitalisation for Australian children under five, with around one in four of these children needing intensive care. Each winter, about 12,000 babies under 12 months are hospitalised due to RSV, a highly contagious virus that peaks during colder months. Babies under six months are at highest risk for severe symptoms, which can include bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

The Immunisation Foundation is dedicated to supporting public acceptance of these groundbreaking immunisations, ensuring babies stay out of hospitals and at home where they belong.