Following a severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season in 2024, Cabrini is urging the community to protect their family and take advantage of a new government preventative health program.

As explained by Cabrini’s Head of Paediatrics, A/Prof Daryl Cheng on Channel 9 News – RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs, is currently a leading cause of infant admissions to hospital under the age of 12 months in Australia.

Until now however, there has been no systematic approach to funding preventative therapies for RSV. This year the Victorian Government has implemented a completely new and complimentary infant preventative RSV immunisation program which will run from 1 April to 30 September 2025. This is in addition to a nationally funded maternal immunisation program which has been available since February.

“Data from clinical trials and other markets such as the US and EU shows an immunisation program such as this could reduce infant RSV admissions to hospital by rates above 70 per cent,” says Cabrini Head of Paediatrics, A/Prof Daryl Cheng.

“Just released data from Western Australia, where this program was in place across the state for the 2024 season, have shown that hospitalisations due to RSV were reduced by 88%. This has a huge impact not only on the hospital system which is busy during winter, but also a significant benefit for parents, children and families.”

In Victoria, the infant program was previously only available to high-risk children via tertiary hospitals – but now a long-acting RSV monoclonal antibody, Beyfortus™ (nirsevimab), will be free and widely available for all eligible infants and young children.

“RSV cases usually start to rise around late autumn, followed by flu season during winter and spring. Last winter we saw the triple threat of RSV, COVID and flu all circulating around the same time, which placed a significant burden on our healthcare and hospital systems,” said A/Prof Cheng.

“Since 2021, RSV cases across Australia have been steadily rising with an annual increase of almost 146 per cent. So, this program should make a dramatic difference to our winter virus season particularly for those under 12 months of age,” he said.

Together with its clinician partners, Cabrini has offered free immunisation as part of the National Immunisation Program for its expectant mothers since February. It will now deliver preventative therapies for newborns and infant patients on the maternity wards, special care nursery and in special immunisation clinics at the Cabrini Mother and Baby Centre, Malvern, from 1 April.

Cabrini is just one of many healthcare locations you can go to protect your family from RSV. Refer below for more information on Cabrini’s RSV immunisation clinic times or contact your GP.

Cabrini RSV Immunisation Clinic

FREE walk-in appointments (no booking required) for Maternal Immunisation or Infant Monoclonal Antibody.

Cabrini Mother & Baby Centre, Level 2, 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern

For further information about our RSV therapeutics program, or if you want to book a specific appointment to discuss with our immunisation specialists, please contact FITS Clinic on 03 9005 8508 or info@fitsclinic.com.