The State Government has announced it will continue its free respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation program for babies for another year.
WA became the first state in the country to provide free RSV immunisation to infants in 2024 when it rolled out the vaccination program to administer Beyfortus (nirsevimab).
Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton said almost 22,000 babies were protected during the 2024 RSV season.
“I am happy that infants will continue to get the protection they need through this program” and encourage new mothers to get their newborns immunised,” she said.
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalisation for children during the first year of life.
Most children will have been infected by RSV before the age of two and babies under the age of six months are at the greatest risk of developing severe symptoms, including lung infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
A $7.6 million investment as part of the 2025-2026 State budget will fund the program.
The continuation of the program will be boosted by the Commonwealth’s newly funded maternal RSV vaccine for pregnant women, delivering additional protection.
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This immunisation effort resulted in a 57% reduction in hospitalisations of babies younger than 12 months and eased pressure on hospitals and emergency departments.
Ms Winton said the State Government was committed to preventing health problems and keeping people out of hospital in the short and long term.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright has welcomed the move by the WA government but wants to see more at-risk groups protected across the country.
“It has been very encouraging to see the Western Australian government announce this week their RSV immunisation program will continue in 2026 to protect infants during the RSV season,” he said.
“But at this stage free vaccines for other at-risk groups are not funded nationally and they vary from state to state.
“What we really need to see now is all vaccines recommended in the Australian Immunisation Handbook to be freely available for every at-risk group.”
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The handbook recommends RSV vaccination for pregnant women, all people over 75 years of age, and anyone over 60 who is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or who has medical risk factors for severe RSV disease.
Australia has recorded more than 63,000 cases of RSV so far this year.
“With more than half of reported cases occurring in babies and children aged under four and almost 20% occurring among over 60s, protecting these populations is crucial,” Dr Wright said.
“Federal and State Governments must cooperate to ensure all vulnerable groups can access the vaccine for free to keep them safe and reduce the spread of the disease.
“RSV hits our communities hard every year, with serious and sometimes life-threatening consequences for babies, young children, older people, and people with chronic health conditions.”
Catherine Hughes, founder of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, said RSV continued to pose a serious risk to young children and broader immunisation uptake remains critical.
“We’re hearing that some parents are unsure whether their baby is eligible for free RSV immunisation, or worse, that babies have been hospitalised after missing out on protection and falling through the cracks,” she said.
A study that looked at the effectiveness of WA’s RSV immunisation program in its early stages found it had helped more than 500 WA families avoid a hospital stay.
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