Free RSV immunisation for NSW newborns to rollout

From March 17, free immunisation for RSV will be made available to all newborn babies in NSW under an expanded program.

When little Eva Valdimarsdottir was just 14-months-old she was hospitalised with a severe and “very scary” case of RSV, but from next week all babies in NSW will be immunised against the virus before they even leave hospital.

From March 17, free immunisation for the virus will be made available to all newborn babies in NSW under an expanded program aimed at reducing the number of hospitalisations linked to the respiratory illness.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects up to 90 per cent of children within the first two years of life – including little Eva, who contracted the virus from her older sister Emilia at just 14-months-old.

Fiona Shepheard and Valli Einarsson with their daughters Eva Valdimarsdottir, 21 months, and Emilia Valdimarsdottir, 3 years, who both contracted RSV in late 2024. Picture: Supplied

She was hit particularly hard by the virus, due to a congenital birth issue where her oesophagus was not properly formed, which means respiratory conditions have a much greater impact on her little body.

“Eva’s (symptoms) started with mild flu symptoms but as the virus progressed it started impacting her breathing,” her mum Fiona told the Telegraph.

“She was having 39 degree fevers and she was breathing very fast.

“We’ve seen her go through quite a lot but it was the scariest thing because it’s the most sick we have ever seen her.”

Eva’s condition deteriorated so much that her oxygen saturations were below 90, and she wasn’t allowed any oral feeds.

“She was on the cusp of going to ICU. It was really scary watching her so vulnerable,” Fiona said.

She wasn’t vaccinated against RSV, however, is first in line for her jab following the NSW Government’s expansion of the immunisation’s eligibility.

Health Minister Ryan Park. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

The jab will now be available to infants at birth not protected by maternal RSV vaccination, newborns with certain medical conditions that place them at highest risk of serious RSV disease and children up to 24 months of age with certain medical conditions.

Since February, pregnant women have been eligible for a free RSV vaccination which passes protection to their babies for the first five months of life.

With the combined coverage of free maternal vaccination and free infant immunisation, all newborn babies in NSW can be protected from the virus – which resulted in 52,000 hospitalisations between 2016 and 2023.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the expanded eligibility would keep more babies out of hospital.

“It doubles the options for protection of newborns, either through maternal vaccination or infant immunisation,” he said.

“This will keep babies out of hospital, and at home with their family.”