The long-acting Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunisation is now available free for eligible families until 30 September.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn opened the upgraded Tweddle Early Parenting Centre in Footscray on Monday March 31, and announced that RSV immunisation would be free for all newborns if their mother wasn’t vaccinated during pregnancy.
RSV is a highly infectious virus that infects up to 90 per cent of children within the first two years of life. The state government is delivering a free program to protect around 40,000 Victorian babies born this RSV season.
As part of the program, the long-acting monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab, is administered in hospital as part of standard post-birth care – helping parents save and avoiding visits to the GP.
Eligible infants aged up to two years who are vulnerable to severe RSV disease will be protected thanks to a dedicated catch-up program.
The state-based program complements the Commonwealth maternal vaccine, Abrysvo, which commenced in February as part of the coordinated national effort to protect as many babies as possible.
Mothers are encouraged to get vaccinated during their pregnancy to help build immunity in their baby as early as possible. However, for those unable to be immunised with Abrysvo, or mums immunised less than two weeks before delivery, the Victorian-funded, nirsevimab, will now be available for babies.
In Australia, RSV is the most common cause of hospitalisation in infants because it can often progress to pneumonia or bronchiolitis in very young children.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said “No matter where you live in Victoria the mother and infant RSV protection program is now available. While pregnant women can now access an RSV vaccine, protection is administered to newborns and vulnerable infants at no cost, so no one misses out, and Victorian families can have peace of mind heading into winter.”
