Free RSV Vaccine for Pregnant Women

From 3 February 2025, women will be able to receive a free RSV vaccine between 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect their newborn baby from RSV.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of hospitalisation for infants in Australia, with around 12,000 babies admitted with a severe form of the virus each year – a quarter of whom end up in intensive care. The hospitalisation rate is highest in infants under six months of age and increases again in late adulthood.

RSV is highly contagious and spreads between people if an infected person produces small water droplets while talking, coughing and sneezing. Common symptoms include:

• coughing

• a fever

• a runny or stuffy nose

• wheezing or difficulty breathing.

When women have an RSV vaccine in pregnancy, they pass antibodies to their baby through the placenta. This helps to protect their newborn baby from birth. Getting a vaccine in pregnancy reduces the risk of severe RSV disease in infants less than 6 months of age by about 70%.

You can receive a free RSV vaccine if you are pregnant and if you have, or are eligible for, a Medicare card.

Read more about vaccinations during pregnancy or speak to one of our GPs by booking an appointment.