Winter success – 140,000 babies protected against RSV
Nearly 140,000 Australian babies were protected against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this winter, helping reduce the number of infants admitted to hospitals with life-threatening complications of the disease,1-3 according to the Immunisation Foundation of Australia.
As winter ends, Australia's world-leading infant RSV immunisation program has already delivered a 30 per cent reduction in hospital admissions due to severe RSV for infants aged under six months compared to last year. 3 Importantly, this includes a 33 per cent drop in the number of babies admitted to intensive care.3
RSV is the number one cause of hospitalisation for Australian children under five years of age, with up to one-in-four of these children requiring intensive care.2 Without RSV immunisation, around 12,000 Australian babies aged 12 months or younger are admitted to hospital with severe RSV each year.2
Following the roll-out of the National RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program, this year marks the first time that all Australian families have had free access to either:
- Maternal RSV Vaccination (Abrysvo) – a vaccine given to a woman between 28-36 weeks of pregnancy so she can develop and pass on protective antibodies to her baby when born. Protection lasts for 5-6 months after birth.
- Infant RSV Immunisation (Beyfortus, also known as nirsevimab) – ready-made antibodies that offer same-day protection against severe RSV infection. One injection offers protection for infants for 5-6 months.
The latest data reveals that nearly 102,000 pregnant women have received the maternal RSV vaccine, while infant RSV immunisation has provided protection to an additional 36,000 babies under eight months of age.1,4
At 31 August, 141,433 RSV cases had been reported across Australia, with half of these infections occurring in children under five years of age. New South Wales carried the heaviest burden, with 43 per cent of all RSV cases for the year.5
"Before RSV immunisations became available, parents could only watch and worry as their babies suffered. Today, we are keeping Australian babies well and out of hospital," she said.
While initial results from Australia's infant RSV immunisation program are encouraging, the Immunisation Foundation of Australia believes there is definitely room for improvement.
"Parents want to do the best for their children, but there has been some confusion about eligibility and lack of access in certain parts of the country," said Ms Hughes.
"We hope that with more education, next year will bring greater clarity and higher rates of RSV protection in Australian infants."
Infectious diseases physician and vaccination specialist Professor Chris Blyth has seen firsthand the success and far-reaching impact of RSV immunisation.
"We know RSV can quickly escalate to serious respiratory illness in babies. Immunisation allows us to protect infants at their most vulnerable, lowering the risk of both short and long-term complications from the virus," said Professor Blyth.
"Results from an early infant immunisation strategy implemented in Western Australia in 2024 showed that babies were more than 80 per cent less likely to be hospitalised with RSV compared with those who were not immunised.6 With maternal vaccine available in 2025 as well as immunisation for infants whose mothers were not vaccinated, we are watching the 2025 season closely to see how this comprehensive strategy compares," he said.
Ms Hughes stressed that RSV continues to circulate well beyond the winter months, so "it's not too late for parents to protect their little ones".
"For those who missed vaccination during pregnancy, newborns can still receive RSV immunisation. In most states and territories, there are catch-up programs for older babies."
While this year marks a milestone for infant protection, older Australians remain vulnerable to RSV, with vaccines currently only available via private prescription. The Immunisation Foundation of Australia is advocating for affordable access to RSV protection for older people in advance of winter 2026.
