THE Western Australian Government will introduce additional protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for infants this winter, thanks to an expansion of the state-funded RSV immunisation program.
Effective immediately, all babies born between 01 Oct 2025 and 31 Mar 2026 are eligible to receive nirsevimab (Beyfortus) at no cost ahead of winter - regardless of whether their mother received the RSV vaccine while pregnant.
This world-first measure will provide added protection for thousands of babies born during spring and summer to mothers who received maternal immunisation through the Federal Government's National Immunisation Program (NIP).
By the time the winter RSV season arrives for these babies, the maternal antibodies passed on during pregnancy will have diminished, leaving the infant with little, if any, protection against severe RSV illness.
"We commend Western Australia for continuing to lead the fight against RSV," said Immunisation Foundation of Australian founder and director, Catherine Hughes.
"Ideally, other state and federal governments should follow WA's lead and offer similar, optimal programs, because no baby should be left unprotected from RSV in the winter season," she added.
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