Twenty thousand WA babies vaccinated against RSV under free immunisation program

Twenty thousand WA babies have been vaccinated against a highly infectious respiratory virus in just four months, in a sign of success for a free new immunisation program. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced the milestone for the rollout of the State Government’s nation-leading $11 million immunisation program for respiratory syncytial virus on Thursday. RSV infects up to two-thirds of all babies before the age of one and hospitalises more than 1000 babies each year. WA in April became the first State to make the antibody Nirsevimab, which protects against RSV, free for certain babies. The immunisation protects infants for up to five months and was timed to cover the typical winter RSV season from May to September. In the Northern Hemisphere every 25 doses has been found to prevent one hospitalisation, with WA projected to have so far prevented 760 hospitalisations based on those figures. Data to the end of July found RSV hospitalisations in WA were down 53 per cent among babies eligible for immunisation under eight months old, compared to the same period last year. Newborns in birthing hospitals can also receive Nirsevimab for free until the end of this year’s RSV season and will be offered the immunisation by the hospital. Ms Sanderson thanked parents who had taken advantage of the free program and encouraged those who had yet to get their eligible babies immunised to book an appointment with their GP, Community Health Clinic or Aboriginal Medical Service provider “Twenty thousand children are now protected from RSV, which is a remarkable achievement given that an infant RSV immunisation program did not exist globally just 12 months ago,” the minister said. “The Cook Government’s $11 million investment is already protecting over 750 babies from getting seriously ill or hospitalised this winter. “I encourage all parents of eligible children yet to get their babies immunised from RSV to book an appointment with their local provider and ensure their newborns are immunised against this highly infectious disease.” The immunisation is free for babies born from October 1 2023, Aboriginal children and children deemed high-risk born from October 1 2022. For more information on the RSV immunisation visit the WA health website.