More than 60,000 mums in Australia have received the maternal RSV vaccine to protect their babies from serious illness since the Albanese Government's free vaccine program came into effect in February.
The success of the world-leading program has resulted in an almost 40 per cent drop in RSV notifications for young children, from 45,838 cases between February and May 2024 to 27,921 during the same period this year.
The Albanese Government invested $174.5 million to give eligible pregnant women free access to the RSV vaccine, Abrysvo®, under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The free maternal RSV vaccine is available to women who are 28 to 36 weeks pregnant, to protect their newborn babies from serious illness.
Without subsidy, Australians could expect to pay $300 for the vaccine.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that affects the nose, throat and lungs.
RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation of babies in Australia, with around 12,000 babies admitted to hospital each year with severe RSV.
Maternal immunisation reduces the risk of severe RSV disease in infants under 6 months of age by about 70 per cent.
These immunisations will reduce hospitalisation rates and keep an estimated 10,000 infants out of hospital each year.
Pregnant women can safely receive the RSV vaccine at the same time as other free and recommended maternal vaccines, influenza and whooping cough, which are already available for free on the NIP for pregnant women.
