Free RSV Vaccine Now Available for WA Aged Care Residents
20 Feb 2026
The move comes after ongoing advocacy from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
The $2.6 million initiative will provide the Arexvy vaccine at no cost for people aged 65 and over living in residential aged care facilities. Around 15,000 residents are expected to be vaccinated under the program. This is the first time older West Australians will have access to a subsidised RSV vaccine, which can cost about $300 privately.
RACGP WA Chair and Vice President, Dr Ramya Raman, welcomed the announcement. She said the cost had been a barrier for many seniors. “It’s great news for aged care homes, but we hope it will eventually be available for all over-65s,” Dr Raman said. She also said the vaccine could help ease pressure on hospitals.
Dr Raman explained that the RACGP had been working closely with WA Health and government ministers to make the program happen. “We’ve had discussions over the last two winters, and it’s good to see this collaboration leading to action,” she said.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the program aims to keep older Australians healthy during winter and reduce strain on emergency departments. The RACGP will work with aged care providers and clinicians to ensure the rollout runs smoothly.
Last year, Australia recorded over 177,000 RSV cases, with nearly 13,000 in WA. Children aged 0–4 were the most affected. The WA Government also announced it has secured 130,000 doses of the FluMist nasal vaccine for children aged 2–12 for this flu season.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: newsGP