Clarification of the National Immunisation Program maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine program

The Department of Health and Aged Care has clarified recent misinterpretations about the inclusion of the Abrysvo^® RSV vaccine for eligible pregnant women to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for 2025.

To clarify:

• The maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo®, will be provided for free through the NIP to eligible women at 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. The maternal RSV vaccine will be in addition to the whooping cough and influenza vaccines, already available for free through the NIP for pregnant women.
• States and Territories will provide access to the monoclonal antibody, Beyfortus™, to newborns and young children. This product will not be covered through the NIP.

The Australian Government is working with all States and Territories to support a coordinated approach to accessing maternal and infant RSV products. Arrangements are underway and further details of both Commonwealth and jurisdictional programs, including the start dates, will be announced once confirmed. Questions on access to Beyfortus™ should be directed to the relevant state or territory government.

• There has been some reporting that the maternal RSV vaccine Abrysvo® is now available on the NIP. Currently, the Abrysvo® vaccine is only available on the private market and if purchased, cannot be reimbursed through the NIP. The maternal RSV vaccine will be available through the NIP in early 2025.
• No RSV vaccines for older Australians are currently funded through the NIP. These are only available on the private market and purchase of these cannot be reimbursed through the NIP.

More information and clinical advice can be viewed on the Australian Immunisation Handbook Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) chapter.