Free vaccination to protect babies from RSV

Australian mums and their newborn babies will have free access to the best and most comprehensive protection in the world against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ahead of Winter in 2025.

The Government is investing $174.5 million to provide pregnant women with free access to the maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, Abrysvo, under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

To ensure that every single Australian baby is protected, the Australian Government has worked with all States and Territories to support national access to the monoclonal antibody, Beyfortus, which provides direct protection to newborns and young children. The Commonwealth has brought together a national working group to support this work.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs and is a leading cause of childhood hospitalisation.

Almost all infants will be infected with RSV before the age of 2, with around 12,000 babies every winter admitted to hospital with severe RSV.

Maternal immunisation significantly reduces the risk of severe RSV disease in infants less than 6 months of age.

These immunisations will slash hospitalisation rates and keep around 10,000 infants out of hospital each year.

This investment is in addition to the whooping cough and influenza vaccines, already available for free on the NIP for pregnant women, which reduce the risk of severe complications and disease for the mother and newborn child.

Without listing it on the NIP, these RSV vaccines would cost parents over $300 each.

More information on how to access the vaccine will be released in 2025.