Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is a common cause of respiratory illness. It is often the cause of the ‘common cold’ and can affect people of all ages.

Children under 2 years of age and older adults are more at risk of serious RSV illness.

RSV is one of the most common causes of hospitalisation in infants and young children, with almost all children experiencing at least one RSV infection within the first 2 years of life. Babies, especially those under 6 months of age, can develop serious chest infections such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

Find out more about RSV.

National Immunisation Program for RSV

Older Australians

On Sunday 19 April 2026, the Australian Government announced the inclusion of RSV vaccine Arexvy on the National Immunisation Program schedule, from 15 May 2026.

The following people with a Medicare card will be eligible to receive an RSV immunisation with Arexvy under this program:

• All people 75 years and over
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 60 years and over.

Those wishing to access RSV immunisation are encouraged to contact their preferred immunisation provider to discuss eligibility and book an appointment.

Providers will be able to order stock as part of routine fortnightly ordering. See Order, store and manage immunisation medicines for more information on ordering funded vaccines.

Pregnancy

RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, is recommended and funded under the NIP for administration during each pregnancy from 28 weeks gestation to protect infants against severe RSV disease from birth for up to 6 months.

Queensland Paediatric RSV Prevention Program

The Queensland Paediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Prevention Program provides free immunisation to eligible infants and young children living in Queensland.

Those wishing to access infant RSV immunisation are encouraged to contact their preferred immunisation provider to discuss eligibility and book an appointment ahead of time.

This program is intended to be delivered non-seasonally (year-round).

Product selection and eligibility

Eligibility for nirsevimab under the Queensland Paediatric RSV Prevention Program is not linked to Medicare status.

Eligibility for Abrysvo or Arexvy under the National Immunisation Program is linked to eligibility for Medicare benefits.

Note brands of RSV immunisation products are not interchangeable, please see below for more information on how to select the correct brand.

Product selection guide

The RSV product selection guide assists immunisation providers select and administer RSV vaccines and related immunisation products.

Queensland RSV (PDF 251 kB)

Immunisation products

The following immunisation products are available in Queensland under program:

• Abrysvo, an RSV vaccine that is recommended for administration during each pregnancy from 28 weeks protect infants against severe RSV disease from birth for up to 6 months.
• Nirsevimab (brand name Beyfortus), a long-acting monoclonal antibody that provides infants and young children protection against severe RSV disease for at least 5 months from administration.

Both products have been determined by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to be safe and effective and are approved for use in Australia.

Product selection and eligibility

Eligibility for nirsevimab under this program is not linked to Medicare status.

Eligibility for Abrysvo under the National Immunisation Program is linked to eligibility for Medicare benefits.

Note: brands of RSV immunisation products are not interchangeable, please see below for more information on how to select the correct brand.

Product selection guide

The RSV product selection guide assists immunisation providers select and administer RSV vaccines and related immunisation products.

Queensland RSV (PDF 251 kB)

Arexvy

A single dose of Arexvy is recommended and funded under the National Immunisation Program for:

• People 75 years and over
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 60 years and over.

Do not use this brand in pregnancy.

If the person has previously received a dose of RSV vaccine (either Arexvy or Abrysvo) they do not need to be re-vaccinated.

Abrysvo

A single dose of Abrysvo is recommended and funded under the National Immunisation Program during each pregnancy from 28 weeks gestation.

• This dose should be offered year-round (non-seasonally).
• Abrysvo is the only vaccine approved for use in pregnancy. Do not use other brands of RSV vaccine.
• If Abrysvo is not administered before 36 weeks gestation it should be given as soon as possible prior to delivery, and remains funded under this program.
• This dose should be administered at least 14 days before delivery to ensure protection for the infant at time of birth.
• Some newborn infants born to people vaccinated against RSV in pregnancy may still be eligible for nirsevimab.

Abrysvo toolkits

• Immunisation Service Provider Toolkit (PDF 2955 kB)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Services Toolkit (PDF 1475 kB)

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus)

Infants from birth (see note 1) to less than 8 months of age are recommended to receive a dose of nirsevimab if they meet one of the listed eligibility criteria.

Recommended for all infants where:

• the infant is not protected by Abrysvo from birth. This may include:
  1. Abrysvo was not administered during pregnancy, or
  2. Infant was delivered within 14 days of Abrysvo administration, or
  3. where Abrysvo immunisation status is unknown, or
  4. the infant has a condition associated with increased risk of severe RSV disease (see note 2), or
  5. the infant may have suboptimal RSV antibodies (see note 1).

• This dose should be offered year-round (non-seasonally).
• This dose should be offered prior to discharge from the birthing hospital. Eligible infants not immunised in hospital can access nirsevimab through primary care immunisation providers.

Once an infant reaches 8 months of age, they will no longer be eligible for this dose.

Infants and young children with a condition associated with increased risk of severe RSV disease (see note 2) from 8 months to less than 24 months of age, ahead of their second RSV season.

• Infants or young children with a condition associated with increased risk of severe RSV disease (see note 2) are eligible for this dose.
• This dose should be given regardless of maternal RSV vaccination status and at least 6 months after any previous dose of nirsevimab (noting that some infants and young children will be eligible for more than one dose of nirsevimab under this program).
• Immunisation providers are encouraged to consider the timing of this dose to ensure that the approximately 5 months of protection it provides against severe RSV disease covers the peak months of the infant or child’s second RSV season. 
• Once an infant reaches 24 months of age, they will no longer be eligible for this dose.

Note 1: See Appendix 3 of the Queensland Paediatric RSV Prevention Program Clinical Guidance (PDF 819 kB) document for the nirsevimab decision support flow chart.

Note 2: See Appendix 2 of the Queensland Paediatric RSV Prevention Program Clinical Guidance (PDF 819 kB) document for a list of conditions associated with increased risk of severe RSV disease.

Administration

The Queensland Paediatric RSV Prevention Program Clinical Guidance (PDF 819 kB) document has been developed to support providers administering RSV prevention products in Queensland.

Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook for more information about RSV and immunisation.

Consent

Use the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Nirsevimab Immunisation Consent form (PDF 200 kB) to obtain consent from parents or legal guardians for nirsevimab administration.

The fact sheets below contain information to assist in making an informed decision to consent for nirsevimab and Abrysvo administration.

• RSV Immunisation Nirsevimab - Information for parents and carers (PDF 191 kB)
• First Nations RSV Immunisation Nirsevimab - Information for parents and carers (PDF 1441 kB)
• Vaccination during pregnancy - Abrysvo (PDF 198 kB)
• First Nations Abrysvo RSV vaccination during pregnancy - Abrysvo (PDF 1456 kB)

For more information, refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Order immunisation products

Abrysvo and nirsevimab can be ordered from the Queensland Health Immunisation Program (QHIP) as part of routine immunisation orders.