THE Federal Government’s announcement of a free immunisation program against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) has been hailed as a win for families in Ipswich and surrounding areas.
From February 3, local mothers and their newborns will have access to the most comprehensive protection available against RSV, a potentially deadly virus that infects nearly all infants by the age of two and leads to hospitalisation for over 12,000 babies each year.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Queensland chair Cath Hester spoke out about the importance of the initiative, noting that RSV continues to put healthy children in hospital every year.
“It’s an awful experience for a young family to go through, even if their child’s symptoms become mild rather than life-threatening,” Dr Hester said.
“We’re also seeing RSV spread year-round in Queensland, so families can find themselves caught off guard by respiratory illnesses.”
Under the program, the RSV vaccine will be available free of charge for pregnant women between 28 and 36 weeks, significantly reducing the risk of severe RSV illness in their babies under six months of age by approximately 70 per cent.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann welcomed the program, noting that it could save lives and prevent the hospitalisation of more than 10,000 infants across Australia each year.
He highlighted how important the decision is for Ipswich, where around 2700 babies are born annually.
“This decision will save lives and help keep more than 10,000 infants out of hospital each year,” Mr Neumann said. “It’s great news for the 2700 babies born annually in Ipswich and the Somerset region.”
