'Confusing' approach to RSV vaccinations resulting in unnecessary hospitalisations
GPs and immunisation experts have joined forces to call for a nationally consistent approach to RSV vaccinations as WA continues to lead the way on protecting infants from the virus.
Despite data showing hospitalisations are avoided when RSV vaccines are provided to infants, more than 40,000 babies across the country missed out on protection this year.
A consensus statement launched by the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) and delivered health ministers across Australia called for urgent reforms to improve access.
While maternal vaccination is funded and consistently available through the National Immunisation Program (NIP), infant antibody immunisation is funded and delivered by individual states and territories, with differing levels of access, eligibility and awareness.
It means a baby’s likelihood of receiving the infant vaccine is heavily linked to where they live.
IFA Director Catherine Hughes said the fragmented approach to RSV care across Australia was chaotic and confusing.
The foundation has called on the federal government to support funding for infant antibody immunisation through the NIP for infants not protected through maternal RSV vaccination.
It also wants to see expanded eligibility for additional RSV protection to all high-risk infants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants and those born before 36 weeks’ gestation, rather than 32 weeks.
“Families keep telling us the same thing: the system is chaotic and confusing, with immunisation access and information differing depending on a baby’s postcode,” Ms Hughes said.
“The result is that vulnerable babies are being left exposed to severe RSV and preventable hospital stays.
“Complexity is a barrier we create. We've taken incredibly effective immunisation programs and wrapped them up in a complex web of varying eligibility rules that confuse healthcare providers and families.
“The reality is that confusion has a very real impact on uptake and ultimately leads to babies being admitted to hospital unnecessarily.”
The case for vaccination
Albany-based Dione Nesbitt described the moment her world was turned upside down when her twin girls were hospitalised with severe RSV when they were just five weeks old – with one baby needing to be resuscitated in front of her terrified parents.
Chloe and Macie were born six weeks early, but were happy and healthy until five weeks later. Chloe was the first to become sick, working hard to breathe she was floppy and lethargic.
She was diagnosed with RSV in her local hospital. Two days later, Macie became unwell and suddenly stopped breathing in Dione’s arms.
“She didn’t take a breath for at least a minute, but it felt like a lifetime,” Dione said.
“After Macie was resuscitated, I insisted my babies were sent to Perth. As soon as the Newborn Emergency Transport Service team saw the twins, they put them on high-level oxygen support.
“The girls were kept in the neonatal intensive care unit at Perth Children’s Hospital for two weeks, during which Macie developed pneumonia resulting in a collapsed lung.”
Dione said the experience was “beyond traumatising” as she feared her girls were going to die.
“Seeing my babies so sick, being poked and prodded, I don’t think it’s something that will ever leave me. I don’t think I’ll ever unsee or unfeel that experience.”
What the data says
New data show more than 159,000 Australian infants were protected against RSV between January and August this year through either maternal vaccination or direct infant immunisation, according to the IFA.
But an estimated 40,500 babies went without RSV protection – around 20% of babies predicted to be born during that period – potentially resulting in 1,620 preventable hospital admissions.
The piecemeal approach to infant vaccination funding is leading to a postcode lottery for protection against the virus.
The IFA says 60% of all babies who received the RSV antibody in 2026 lived in WA or Queensland, despite these states accounting for just 30% of Australian births.
Yet the two largest states, NSW and Victoria, accounted for just a third of all infant immunisations combined.
Dione Nesbitt described the terrifying moment her twin girls were hospitalised with RSV.
WA continues to lead the way
Between January and August this year, WA GPs provided 3300 of the state’s 6750 direct infant RSV antibody immunisations – almost half of the total.
WA GPs alone accounted for almost two-thirds of all GP-delivered infant RSV antibody immunisations recorded nationally.
More than one in every six of all direct infant RSV immunisations administered in Australia were provided by a WA GP.
The state’s RSV immunisation program for infants was expanded earlier this year to include all babies born between 1 October 2025 and 31 March 2026 at no costs to parents.
The program, which has continued to lead the way nationally, will run until the end of September.