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WA delivers world-first protection for spring and summer-born babies

Immunisation Foundation of Australia

WA delivers world-first protection for
spring and summer-born babies

 

Western Australia doubles down on infant RSV immunisations ahead of winter

 

In a world first, the Western Australian Government will introduce an additional safeguard against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the community’s smallest and most vulnerable.

 

Effective immediately, an expansion of the state-funded RSV immunisation program will see all babies born between 1 October 2025 and 31 March 2026 eligible to receive the infant immunisation, nirsevimab (also known as Beyfortus), at no cost ahead of winter – regardless of whether their mother received the RSV vaccine while pregnant.

 

Medical experts say the new move will keep many babies out of hospital during winter when RSV case numbers surge.

 

Broader access to infant RSV immunisation with nirsevimab has been introduced to provide added protection for thousands of babies born during spring and summer to mothers who received maternal immunisation through the Federal Government’s National Immunisation Program (NIP). By the time the winter RSV season arrives for these babies, the maternal antibodies passed on during pregnancy have diminished, leaving the infant with little, if any, protection against severe RSV illness.

 

“This is wonderful news for Western Australian babies and their families,” said Immunisation Foundation of Australian (IFA) Founder and Director, Catherine Hughes AM. “Parents can now protect their babies from birth, when they are most vulnerable, and if needed, again ahead of winter when RSV cases and hospital admissions spike.”

 

Ms Hughes explained that while both the maternal and infant RSV immunisations provide excellent protection for infants, they work best when given at the right time, and where appropriate, in two stages. Maternal RSV immunisation protects infants from birth for up to six months, while infant RSV immunisation delivers pre-made antibodies directly to the child for protection throughout the RSV season (April-September in most of Australia).

 

“RSV protection will not be a case of ‘either-or’ for Western Australian babies,” she said. “This world-leading approach provides the best possible protection against RSV, a virus that has historically been the leading cause of admission to hospital for infants.”

 

“We commend Western Australia for continuing to lead the fight against RSV. In addition to being a global leader in RSV surveillance and research, Western Australia was the first state to fund infant RSV immunisation, and it’s now the first state to double-down on efforts to immunise un-protected and under-protected babies.

“Ideally, other state and federal governments should follow WA’s lead and offer similar, optimal programs – because no baby should be left unprotected from RSV in the winter season,” she said.

 

RSV remains a leading cause of admission to hospital for Australian infants. Already this year, there have been 9,146 confirmed notifications of RSV in children under five years of age.

 

About RSV Infant Immunisation

Nirsevimab is an immunising antibody that offers immediate protection against RSV. It is typically administered at birth or in autumn so that protection is timed for the duration of the RSV season. Further details are available from the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

 

About RSV maternal vaccination

RSV maternal vaccination (called Abrysvo) is given from 28 weeks of pregnancy so a mother can develop and pass on protective antibodies to her baby that are effective from birth for up to six months of age. Pregnant women are recommended to receive the RSV vaccine during each pregnancy. Further details are available from the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

About us:

 

About the Immunisation Foundation of Australia

The Immunisation Foundation of Australia was established by the family of Riley Hughes, who have become vocal advocates of immunisation after the death of their son from whooping cough in 2015. Believing in the importance of parents and community-members standing up to support immunisation, the foundation’s mission is to inspire further community-based immunisation advocacy, helping to protect babies and families from vaccine-preventable diseases.

 

In 2023, the Immunisation Foundation of Australia ran Australia’s first ever RSV Awareness Week, which encouraged families impacted by RSV to share their stories. The campaign was supported by Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic.

The Immunisation Foundation of Australia envisions a world where families are no longer affected by the unnecessary suffering and death caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. To help make this vision a reality, we are committed to creating a network of community-based immunisation champions, who share our common values of respect, integrity and evidence-based advocacy. 

About Catherine Hughes, Founder and Director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia 

Catherine is the founder of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia and Light For Riley, established after the death of her son Riley from whooping cough in 2015. 

 

Only days after Riley's death, Catherine and husband Greg successfully advocated for the introduction of free whooping cough vaccines for pregnant women, resulting in a sharp increase in awareness of the impact of whooping cough on babies and up to 90 per cent of Australian pregnant women choosing to protect their babies during pregnancy.

 

In 2016, Catherine’s infant daughter Lucy was hospitalised with severe RSV. She says: “I won’t lie. We were consumed by thoughts of Riley and a foreboding sense of ‘not again’.” Catherine’s story can be accessed here. In 2022, Catherine was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to immunisation.

 

Contact details:

Candice Hitchcock, 0466 586 758, [email protected]

Catherine Hughes, 0421 483 391