Newborn babies in Queensland can get a free new vaccine for a respiratory virus that is the most common reason for hospitalisation of younger children in Australia.
In New South Wales, the state government is making the vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) available for health-vulnerable babies, including those born prematurely and with compromised immune systems.
The vaccine nirsevimab, sold under the name Beyfortus, was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in November.
Western Australia became the first jurisdiction to offer the vaccine to babies, with the state government announcing on March 5 it would be made available to children younger than eight months old.
The free rollout in Queensland will last for 12 months, at which point the program will be reassessed.
About 70,000 babies are expected to be eligible for the vaccine in that time, costing the state government $31 million.
“Providing the smallest Queenslanders with a free RSV immunisation will help give them the best start in life,” Queensland Premier Steven Miles said.
According to the Queensland government, there have been about 7000 cases of RSV in the year to date — double the number in the same period last year.
The NSW government has revealed to The Australian that doctors will be able to offer Beyfortus to babies, pending consent by their parents, born more than three weeks premature, or if they have lung disease, heart disease, immunodeficiency, down syndrome and impaired respiratory function.
