Pregnant women in the Northern Territory (NT) can now receive the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The vaccine is recommended at 28 to 36 weeks gestation and protects babies from RSV from birth to about six months old, which is the age they are most at risk of serious disease.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent babies from getting severe RSV infection. Getting a vaccine in pregnancy reduces the risk of severe RSV disease in infants less than six months of age by about 70 per cent.
A single dose of the vaccine is required for protection and is available in the NT at health clinics, pharmacies and GPs.
RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus that infects the upper airways and lungs.
RSV is spread through droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze and can spread easily between family members and in the community.
RSV symptoms can include a runny nose, cough, wheeze, difficulty breathing and fever. It can also cause severe respiratory illnesses including bronchiolitis, pneumonia and croup.
RSV mostly affects infants and young children but can occur in older adults.
RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation of babies and infants in Australia, with around 12,000 admissions annually.
In 2024, 1,773 cases of RSV were recorded in the NT, including 556 admissions to hospital. This compares to 620 cases and 134 hospitalisations in 2023 and 1,348 cases and 39 hospitalisations in 2022.
