Pregnant women can now get a free RSV shot
From 3 February 2025, pregnant women in Australia are eligible for a free RSV vaccine under the National Immunisation Program.
While the RSV vaccine is a new addition to the National Immunisation Program, it’s one of three vaccines provided free for pregnant women under the program, alongside ones for influenza and whooping cough. Each offers important protection for newborn babies.
Members of ASID’s Vaccination Special Interest Group (VACSIG) supported by the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases Group (ANZPID) have covered this in an article for The Conversation and stress how important it is to work to improve vaccination rates during pregnancy to give babies the best protection in their first months of life.
Read Pregnant women can now get a free RSV shot. What other vaccines do you need when you’re expecting?
“Now that we have a safe and effective RSV vaccine for pregnancy across all Australian states and jurisdictions, all pregnant women should be encouraged to receive it as the first line of prevention. This will maximise the number of babies protected during their first months of life.”