Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann is urging expectant mothers to get their free RSV vaccine with the winter RSV season now upon us.
More than 60,000 mums in Australia have received the maternal RSV vaccine to protect their babies from serious illness since the Albanese Labor Government’s free vaccine program came into effect in February.
The success of the world-leading program has resulted in an almost 40 per cent drop in RSV notifications for young children, from 45,838 cases between February and May 2024 to 27,921 during the same period this year.
The Albanese Government invested $174.5 million to give eligible pregnant women free access to the RSV vaccine, Abrysvo®, under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The free maternal RSV vaccine is available to women who are 28 to 36 weeks pregnant, to protect their newborn babies from serious illness.
Queensland Health also provides free RSV immunisation during pregnancy and to eligible infants and young children living in Queensland.
Mr Neumann said that without government subsidies, Australians could expect to pay $300 for the vaccine.
“RSV is a common respiratory virus that affects the nose, throat and lungs, and it’s a leading cause of hospitalisation of babies in Australia, with around 12,000 babies admitted to hospital each year with severe RSV,” he said.
“Maternal immunisation reduces the risk of severe RSV disease in infants under 6 months of age by about 70 per cent. It will also reduce hospitalisation rates and keep an estimated 10,000 infants out of hospital each year.”
Pregnant women can safely receive the RSV vaccine at the same time as other free and recommended maternal vaccines, influenza and whooping cough, which are already available for free on the NIP for pregnant women.
For more information, talk to your healthcare provider or visit health.gov.au/maternalvaccinations
Mr Neumann said Australia’s world-leading RSV vaccination program was reducing RSV-related hospital admissions for infants, at a time when they’re most vulnerable to infection.
“The winter RSV season has arrived, so now is the time for expectant mums and newborn bubs in Blair to get their free vaccine,” he said.
“We want every pregnant mum in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and Karana Downs area to get vaccinated to protect their baby against RSV from birth.”
