NSW Health has today announced that from next week, free immunisation from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be available to all newborn babies.
The move will mean all newborn babies in NSW can be protected against serious illness from this virus, with an estimated 1,150 babies under six months of age avoiding hospitalisation for RSV in NSW each year.
NSW Health will offer nirsevimab, a type of monoclonal antibody immunisation to:
- infants at birth not protected by maternal RSV vaccination;
- infants at birth with certain medical conditions that place them at highest risk of serious RSV disease, irrespective of whether their birth mother was vaccinated;
- children up to 24 months of age with certain medical conditions.
Nirsevimab will be given to eligible newborns before hospital discharge.
“RSV can be a serious illness in babies and young children, and I want to encourage parents to make sure their babies are protected, either through maternal vaccination or immunisation at birth with nirsevimab,” said NSW Chief Paediatrician, Dr Helen Goodwin.
“Nirsevimab is safe and effective. It provides antibodies directly to the infant, so they have immediate protection against RSV that lasts for five months.”
Since February, pregnant women have been eligible for a free RSV vaccination (Abrysvo) which passes protection to their babies for the first fives months of life.
Maternal vaccination for RSV is recommended for women between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and is provided through the National Immunisation Program.
With the combined coverage of free maternal vaccination and free infant immunisation, all newborn babies in NSW can be protected, said Health Minister, Ryan Park.
“RSV can be very serious, and I know how stressful and anxiety-inducing such a condition can be for parents,” said Minister Park.
“Today, we can announce that from next week, all newborns can access protection from RSV for free. It doubles the options for protection of newborns, either through maternal vaccination or infant immunisation.
“This will keep babies out of hospital, and at home with their family.”
RSV is a common cause of respiratory illness infecting up to 90% of children within the first two years of life. It can affect anyone, but the infection is more severe in children under one year of age, who may develop bronchiolitis or pneumonia requiring hospitalisation.
In NSW between 2016 and 2023, there were more than 52,000 hospitalisations with an RSV diagnosis, of which approximately 41% were in children aged less than one year.
Further information on how to protect yourself and others from RSV can be found on the NSW Health website at Respiratory syncytial virus.
