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RSV Vaccine Red Tape Leaves Babies Vulnerable
4 Sep
Summary
- Maternal RSV vaccine wasn't subsidised at son's birth in December 2024.
- A catch-up vaccine for infants cost approximately $300, then was unavailable.
- One-in-five Australian babies in 2026 missed RSV protection due to rollout issues.
A Sydney nurse, Melissa Mansell, faced immense stress when her infant son, Giannis, was hospitalised with severe breathing problems due to RSV. She had attempted to secure an RSV vaccine for him before birth, but the maternal vaccine was not nationally subsidised at the time of his December 2024 birth.
Following Giannis's birth, Ms. Mansell sought a prescribed 'catch-up' vaccine for her son. However, she encountered significant barriers, including a cost of approximately $300 and low availability, making it unaffordable while she was on maternity leave.
This personal struggle highlights a wider problem in Australia, where the Immunisation Foundation Australia (IFA) reports that about one-in-five babies born in 2026 have missed out on RSV protection. This is largely attributed to a fragmented, state-by-state approach to vaccination programs and eligibility criteria.
Leading immunisation experts and the IFA are advocating for a single, nationally unified framework for RSV protection. They emphasize that simplified rules and clear messaging are crucial to increase parental confidence and ensure more infants receive vital protection, thereby preventing hospitalisations.
