Thousands of babies will be protected against the RSV virus in Western Australia after the state government secured vaccines for all infants in the state.
It marks the first supply agreement in the southern hemisphere for the immunisation nirsevimab, produced under the brand name Beyfortus, the Immunisation Foundation of Australia said.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the number one cause of infant hospitalisations in Australia for children under five.
”The move by the WA government to secure the RSV infant immunisation ahead of winter will safeguard some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” founder and director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, Catherine Hughes AM, said.
“WA is a leader in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.
“It was one of the first to adopt a maternal whooping cough immunisation program, the first to provide influenza vaccines for children, and will now be the first to protect all infants against severe RSV.”
Infants under eight months old will be eligible for free vaccinations at birthing hospitals, general practitioner offices and health clinics from April.
Babies up to 19 months, who are at an increased risk of severe RSV, are also eligible for free vaccines from April.
The number of infants hospitalised due to RSV was reduced by 83 per cent during clinical trials of the immunisation.
“With an average of 12,000 RSV-related hospitalisations among Australian infants each year, broad access to Beyfortus has the potential to ease the strain on families and our hospital system during the winter months,” Hughes said.
Beyfortus is a one-time shot that protects babies from the virus for the “duration of RSV season,” which is typically around the end of autumn, according to the Immunisation Foundation of Australia.
Nirsevimab was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration late last year.
