Experts urge national action on infant RSV protection
10 Sep 2026
The Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) says Australia could prevent many severe RSV cases in babies if protection was available under clear and consistent national rules.
The RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program (RSV-MIPP), introduced in 2025, uses two approaches to protect infants: vaccination during pregnancy and direct antibody protection for babies.
Maternal RSV vaccination is funded through the National Immunisation Program (NIP). However, infant antibody protection is funded and managed separately by each state and territory. This means eligibility and access can vary across Australia.
In a consensus statement released this week, the IFA called for infant RSV antibody protection to be included in the NIP, with national funding and consistent eligibility criteria.
The group also wants RSV vaccination to be offered to all pregnant women from 28 weeks of pregnancy without routine exclusions, and for vaccination to become a standard part of antenatal care across general practice, obstetrics, pharmacy and midwifery.
GP Dr Rochelle Oei-Hicks, who is a member of the IFA expert advisory panel, said confusion around RSV protection had affected both healthcare professionals and families.
Her son Zach developed RSV when he was 12 days old in 2025 and spent 15 days in hospital. Dr Oei-Hicks said she had not known at the time that private immunisation was an option.
More than 159,000 Australian infants received RSV protection through maternal vaccination or direct infant immunisation between January and August 2026. However, the IFA estimates that about 40,500 babies did not receive protection.
Australian research suggests that one RSV-related hospital admission can be prevented for every 25 infants immunised. The IFA says the current gap could therefore represent about 1,620 potentially preventable hospital admissions.
Access also differs between states. Western Australia and Queensland accounted for 60% of infants who received RSV antibodies in 2026, despite representing about 30% of Australian births. NSW and Victoria together accounted for around one-third of infant antibody immunisations.
IFA Founder and Director Catherine Hughes said families could face different access and information depending on where they live.
The IFA said a national approach would make RSV protection easier for healthcare professionals and families to understand and could improve uptake.
Experts urge national action on infant RSV protection
Source: RACGP – newsGP