National RSV maternal and infant protection program 2025
About the 2025 RSV program
Ahead of Winter 2025, free RSV vaccination will be offered in pregnancy from 28 weeks gestation to protect the infant.
In addition, an RSV monoclonal antibody program, with Beyfortus (nirsevimab), will be available to eligible infants and young children.
Under the comprehensive program:
- Free RSV vaccination with Abrysvo will be available for pregnant people under the NIP Schedule from early 2025. A single dose of the vaccine is recommended in pregnancy from 28–36 weeks' gestation to protect the infant against RSV.
- Eligible infants, including infants whose mothers did not receive Abrysvo vaccine during pregnancy and those with high-risk conditions, will have access to a free long-acting RSV monoclonal antibody, Beyfortus (nirsevimab).
Why are infants at higher risk of severe RSV?
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections. In Tasmania, the RSV season typically occurs from May to September, with year-to-year variation.
Symptoms often include runny nose, cough, and fever. However, in babies under 12 months, and especially under six months, the virus can lead to more severe illness and hospitalisation.
Why is vaccination during pregnancy important?
The vaccine induces an immune response against the virus, resulting in antibodies that are passed to the baby via the placenta. These antibodies protect the young infant in their early months of life, when they are most vulnerable to severe RSV infection.
Program Eligibility
Maternal vaccination (Abyrsvo)
Ahead of winter 2025, all pregnant women from 28 weeks are strongly recommended to receive a NIP funded RSV vaccine (Abrysvo). This will be available for free through General Practice, community pharmacies and antenatal care providers.
Infants are considered protected if their mother was vaccinated at least 2 weeks before delivery.
The start date for this program is yet to be announced but expected in early 2025.
Infant Immunisation (Beyfortus; nirsevimab)
From 1 April 2025, a state funded long-acting RSV monoclonal antibody (Beyfortus; nirsevimab) will be available for eligible infants entering their first RSV season.
This includes the following infants born from 1 October 2024 and aged <8 months old:
- Infants whose mothers did not receive RSV vaccination during pregnancy.
- Infants whose mothers were vaccinated less than two weeks before delivery.
- Infants who are at increased risk of severe RSV, regardless of their mother’s vaccination status.
An additional program will be available for some children <24 months of age entering their second RSV season who have risk factors that place them at higher risk of severe RSV disease.
Risk factors for severe RSV include prematurity (born less than 32 weeks gestational age) and specific chronic or complex medical conditions that affect lung or immune function. For more details see the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Beyfortus (nirsevimab) will be offered through public and private birthing hospitals, General Practitioners, and some tertiary outpatient clinics.
For more information
For further information about RSV, see the RSV fact sheet
Learn about how vaccination protects your baby and more information about vaccination during pregnancy (skai.org.au)
Find out more about the NIP schedule including eligibility (health.gov.au)
The Immunisation Unit can be contacted at [email protected] or by phone on 1800 671 738 to answer any queries from providers or members of the public about the RSV program 2025.