A groundbreaking vaccine protecting infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of hospitalizations in Australia, is now accessible to pregnant women at no cost. The vaccine, administered during the third trimester, provides antibodies to the fetus, offering protection during the first few months of life. This significant advancement in child health is expected to significantly reduce the number of infant hospitalizations due to RSV annually.
A new vaccine aimed at protecting infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of hospitalizations among babies in Australia , is now available to pregnant women at no cost. RSV causes thousands of infant hospitalizations annually, with infections peaking between March and August. A 2019 study published in the Medical Journal of Australia revealed that two out of every 100 babies born in Australia will be hospitalized due to RSV by six months of age.
However, vaccination during pregnancy can significantly reduce this risk before the baby is even born.Pregnant women can now access the maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, through the National Immunisation Program (NIP), alongside existing vaccines for influenza and whooping cough. Abrysvo is administered to women between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation. Without government subsidy, the federal government estimates the RSV vaccine would cost patients over $300. Catherine Hughes, the founding director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, hailed the announcement as a long-awaited victory. 'This is a huge milestone to help protect infants from RSV and will provide long-awaited support for many Australian families,' she stated. 'We believe a program like this is likely to keep 10,000 babies out of hospital every single year.' RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in Australia, potentially leading to breathing difficulties, coughing, and fever. Professor Steve Robson from the Australian National University Medical School emphasized the vulnerability of younger babies. 'Infants are at the highest risk of severe RSV disease and complications during the first six months of life,' he explained. The Immunisation Coalition, an organization advocating for immunization, notes that infants with pre-existing conditions, such as premature birth, heart or lung problems, or compromised immune systems, are considered higher risk. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler elaborated on how the vaccine functions to minimize the risk and severity of RSV in infants. 'It's recommended that they take it in their third trimester, and we want them to consider doing that at the same time they'll usually get the whooping cough vaccine,' he said. 'Those antibodies then pass through the placenta to the fetus, and the babies are born with antibodies that protect them for the first precious few months of their life.' The United States Centers for Disease Control also reports that RSV vaccines reduce the likelihood of adults being hospitalized. Their analysis of 2,978 people, 367 of whom had RSV, found vaccines to be 75% effective in preventing hospitalization across all age groups, including those aged 75 and over. Pregnant women can receive these vaccines for free during antenatal visits through their General Practitioner or specialized antenatal clinics available in every state and territory. Currently, RSV vaccines are not funded for other population groups under the NIP
RSV Vaccine Infant Health Pregnancy Australia National Immunisation Program (NIP) Hospitalizations Respiratory Syncytial Virus
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