Cases of RSV nearly double in NT in 2024 with $350 vaccine not subsidised by government

Cases of a life-threatening respiratory virus, the vaccine of which costs $350 a pop, have skyrocketed in the Northern Territory, and locals do not have the option to access a subsidised jab.

Cases of a life-threatening respiratory virus, the vaccine for which costs $350 a pop, have skyrocketed in the Northern Territory, and locals do not have the option to access a subsidised jab.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of hospitalisation for children aged under five in Australia – and has already affected 1000 Territorians this year – up from 599 last year.

And despite the immunisation being approved for use nationally in November 2023, the federal government is yet to make a decision on whether to subsidise the vaccine – which costs $350 per dose.

The Queensland and Western Australian governments chose to fund the vaccine themselves, however in the Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania and South Australia there is no free RSV immunisation available.

In Victoria, only high-risk children in hospital can get the jab – and in New South Wales, only premature babies, Indigenous babies and infants suffering from a chronic condition are eligible.

Immunisation Foundation of Australia Director Catherine Hughes wants the jab to be available for all Australian children under five years old. Picture: supplied

The NT’s infection rates representent the largest year-to-year spike in any part of the country, according to data from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.

The virus is transmitted through contact or fluids, with cases peaking during the colder months.

Immunisation Foundation of Australia founder Catherine Hughes on Tuesday put forward the case for a national immunisation strategy.

Ms Hughes – who lost her infant son Riley in 2015 to whooping cough, and experienced the hospitalisation of her young daughter who contracted RSV in 2016 – hopes the vaccine would become readily available across the country for children under five.

Ms Hughes said the state-funded vaccine programs were not “really equitable”.

“Whatever postcode you’re in, you should have access to a free vaccine,” Ms Hughes said.

However, this could change next month when the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee – which decides which medicines are subsidised – decideswhether or not to list the RSV immunisation drug Beyfortus.

Catherine Hughes with her husband Greg, holding a photo of their son Riley, who died of whooping cough at just four weeks old. Picture: Supplied

Ms Hughes said while her daughter recovered, that was not always the case.

“We have about 12,000 babies hospitalised in Australia every year,” she said.

“It’s hard for parents seeing their babies having breathing difficulties and going through all this pain.”

An NT Health spokeswoman said the department was waiting on national guidance for the implementation of any new RSV vaccine programs.

She said the spread could be reduced by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and staying home while sick.

“There is no specific treatment for RSV … Children with mild disease should have lots of rest and lots of fluids,” she said.

In the year to date, 47,000 children under the age of five have been infected across Australia, while those aged 60-plus have recorded 13,000 infections.

One in four infants treated require intensive care and risk developing pneumonia or bronchitis.

Originally published as Cases of RSV nearly double in NT in 2024 with $350 vaccine not subsidised by government