RSV vaccine uptake Qld’s biggest health development in 30 years

While parents have shown hesitancy over other vaccines, this one has had a huge uptake since it was rolled out this year.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard. Picture: Liam Kidston

• Editor’s view: Proof vaccines work

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is keeping Queensland babies out of hospital in what the chief health officer has hailed as the most significant development in health in the past 30 years.

Since the vaccine was rolled out for free in April, over half of newborns have received it, with Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard saying more than 10,000 babies have been immunised so far.

“This is a disease that is not showing vaccine hesitancy, as parents are well aware it is terrifying to see an infant seriously ill in hospital,” Dr Gerrard said.

“RSV has been the main reason for hospitalisation for children under one year, and it’s a truly frightening disease.

“The main reason for the vaccine was to avoid babies landing in hospital, and I’m pleased to see it’s working.

“This is the biggest health development I have seen in my whole career.”

As of September 12 more than 46,000 doses of the RSV vaccine had been distributed to healthcare providers across Queensland.

Queensland Health data shows that of the 364 children under six months hospitalised with RSV, only eight had been immunised.

Similarly, among children aged six months to less than two years 692 were hospitalised and only seven were immunised.

“The numbers show the importance of being vaccinated and it continues to be important as case numbers continue to surge,” Dr Gerrard said.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Nick Yim

Already this year there have been more than 34,500 cases of RSV reported, with 660 new cases in this past week alone.

Since the launch of the free vaccine the number of cases in infants diagnosed with RSV plummeted from 108 during the week ending April 14 to 12 on the week ending September 9.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Nick Yim told The Courier-Mail that as soon as this immunisation became available in Australia early this year the AMAQ called for free access to keep babies healthy and out of hospital.

“We were incredibly pleased that the government acted so quickly to ensure the best possible protection for our most vulnerable Queenslanders, both now and in the future,” Dr Yim said. “Simple practices like staying home when sick can help prevent the spread of respiratory infections.”

The Queensland government has invested $31 million into the RSV vaccine program.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said if re-elected the Labor government would continue the RSV immunisation program.

“We will absolutely continue this program, because we are radically reducing the number of newborn babies, babies under six months in our hospital,” Ms Fentiman said.

“We are managing to take that pressure off our children’s hospital and other hospitals with this vaccine and actually keep babies at home with their families.”

Ms Fentiman said she will continue to advocate for the Federal government to add RSV to national immunisation program.

WHO QUALIFIES

Your baby or infant will get the free RSV immunisation if they:

* Were born on or after February 2024, up until less than 8 months

* Are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants, up until less than 8 months

* Have certain complex medical conditions, up until less than 8 months

* Have certain complex medical conditions and are between 8 months and 19 months (inclusive) until October 31, 2024