WA to become the first state offering RSV vaccinations for babies in Australia

With 12,000 babies hospitalised every year with potentially deadly lung infection RSV, the first vaccine for babies in Australia has been given the green light.

The first Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine to protect Aussie babies from the potentially deadly lung infection has been given the green light by the country’s drug watchdog.

Sanofi’s Beyfortus was given the approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), with Western Australia becoming the first state or territory to offer free RSV jabs for infants starting in April.

Symptoms of RSV are similar to a common cold, however, it can be serious for babies, older Australians, and those with underlying health conditions.

Nola Rose is one of thousands of children hospitalised every year with RSV. Picture: Supplied

Initial symptoms include a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, loss of appetite, lethargy and irritability, however it can progress to bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

“Every winter, RSV wreaks havoc in Australian homes and hospitals, with children’s wards inundated with babies struggling to breathe due to lung complications caused by RSV,” Sanofi’s country medical lead Dr Iris Depaz said.

“This is why access to RSV protection is needed. We welcome the leadership shown by the Government of Western Australia and WA Health.”

 

Dr Iris Depaz, Country Medical Lead, Sanofi Australia and New Zealand. Supplied

RSV is the number one cause of hospitalisation among young children. On average, 12,000 children under 12 months are admitted to hospital with the virus each year in Australia.

Medical experts said that RSV protection for all infants in their first year of life will help reduce the burden on the health system.

Royal Australian College of GPs Western Australia Chair Dr Ramya Raman welcomed the state government for “acting decisively to help protect children from the worst effects of this virus”.

“RSV must be taken seriously. It is the number one cause of hospitalisation for children aged five and under in Australia, with a quarter of these children needing intensive care,” Dr Raman said.

So, in addition to being a horrible experience for families, the virus places a tremendous strain on our entire healthcare system, including our hospitals.

“This is the first such supply agreement anywhere in the southern hemisphere and a real boost in our efforts to combat RSV in the community.”

Western Australia will join governments in the United States, France, Germany, Spain and Luxembourg that have offered access to Beyfortus during the most recent northern hemisphere winter.

The single injection of Beyfortus will be administered to infants born in WA immediately prior to or during their first RSV season, depending on their birth date.

All medications and immunisations can have side effects. The most common side effects in children receiving Beyfortus include rash and injection site reactions such as swelling, and an elevated body temperature.

Originally published as WA to become the first state offering RSV vaccinations for babies in Australia