Vulnerable Aussies may remain
unprotected against severe RSV
There are mounting concerns that Australians at greatest risk of severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus will miss out on protection against the rampant lung infection, with the Federal Government failing to commit to a national RSV immunisation program.
This is in stark contrast to other parts of the world where new RSV immunisations have been readily embraced. Many countries are currently preparing for the northern hemisphere winter with extensive immunisation programs in place, several for the second year.
The rejection of applications to fund two RSV immunisations (Beyfortus for infants and Arexvy for seniors) comes amid protracted negotiations for an RSV vaccine for pregnant women (Abrysvo) despite a funding recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. As a result, no RSV immunisation has been added to the National Immunisation Program, leaving vulnerable Australians at unnecessary and avoidable risk.
“Australia urgently needs a nationwide RSV immunisation program,” said Catherine Hughes AM, Founder and Director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia.
“RSV is the number one cause of hospitalisation of Australian babies, with our littlest ones spending almost 33,000 days in hospital with the virus last year alone,”1,2 she said. “RSV is also a leading cause of severe illness and death in older Australians.”
“For the first time, the Australian Government could help protect against severe RSV and keep thousands out of hospital.”
Ms Hughes said that rulings against the funding of RSV immunisations are at odds with the massive reductions in hospital admissions seen not only in clinical trials, but in overseas countries and two Australian states which have funded all-infant RSV immunisation programs.
“The success of RSV immunisation programs internationally, and now in Queensland and Western Australia, provides compelling evidence that we can dramatically reduce the number of babies admitted to hospital each winter,” Ms Hughes said.
“The impact of these state-based programs should serve as a catalyst for the Australian Government to commit to a national program to ensure every baby in every postcode has access to RSV protection in 2025,” she said. “Protection against RSV should not be determined by where you live, nor how much money you have.”
Ms Hughes said that the increasing number of countries now implementing large-scale RSV immunisation programs would put increasing pressure on global immunisation supplies.
“We cannot risk further delays. Political leadership is required to ensure RSV immunisations are secured and available in time for winter 2025,” she said.
About RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
RSV is a highly contagious virus which causes lower respiratory tract infections, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia, leading to potentially life-threatening breathing difficulties in newborns and infants, as well as older people.2,3
- RSV in Children: RSV is the number one cause of hospitalisation of Australian children under five years of age, and with up to one-in-four of these children requiring intensive care2. The virus is responsible for around 12,000 Australian babies aged 12 months or younger being admitted to hospital each year on average.2
- RSV in Older Adults: Adults over 60 years of age are at high risk of severe RSV, while those with certain chronic health conditions are at an even greater risk.3 Around one-third of people aged 75 years or older who are hospitalised with RSV die within a year.4
Further information about TGA approved RSV immunisations available below:
- Beyfortus, an antibody therapy for the prevention of RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease in infants entering their first RSV season, and for children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.
- Abrysvo, a vaccine for pregnant women between 28-36 weeks of gestation for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in infants from birth through 6 months age.
- Arexvy, a vaccine for Australians aged 60 years and over to protect against RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease.
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References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Principal Diagnosis data cube under ICD-10-AM Edition 12, 2022-23. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hospitals/principal-diagnosis-data-cubes/contents/summary
- Evohealth. Time to Act – Protecting our children from RSV. 2023. Available at: https://www.evohealth.com.au/insights/time-to-act-protecting-our-children-from-rsv/
- Farquharson KA, Anthony D, Menzies R, N. Homaira. Burden of respiratory syncytial virus disease across the lifespan in Australia and New Zealand: a scoping review. Public Health. 2024 Jan 1;226:8–16.
- Tseng HF, et al. Severe Morbidity and Short- and Mid- to Long-term Mortality in Older Adults Hospitalized with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2020 Jun 27;222(8):1298–310.
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.
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 in 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: “We were consumed by thoughts of Riley and a foreboding sense of ‘not again’.” Catherine’s story is here.
In 2022, Catherine was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to immunisation.
Contact details:
Catherine Hughes
Founder and Director - Immunisation Foundaiton of Australia
0421 483 391
Candice Hitchcock
Ethical Strategies
chitchcock@ethicalstrategies.com.au
0466 586 758
For an interview with a medical expert or family impacted by RSV please get in touch.