Infants will be able to receive a free immunisation to protect them against serious illness from RSV, under a new $16.6 million NSW Government RSV prevention program to begin next year.

RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness infecting up to 90 per cent of children within the first two years of life, with 70,000 cases of RSV detected in people who were tested in NSW to 7 November, more than 10,000, or 15 per cent, of those cases were among children aged under twelve months old. 

From early 2025, pregnant women will be offered a free vaccine, recommended at 28-36 weeks of pregnancy, under the National Immunisation Program, which will in turn protect their newborn infant from RSV.

More information about protection against RSV can be found by heading to the NSW Health government website.