NCIRS releases suite of new and updated RSV resources, as infant protection programs launched across Australia

The roll-out of the National RSV Mother & Infant Protection Program (RSV-MIPP), which commenced on 3 February 2025, is a major milestone in disease prevention in Australia – and NCIRS has released a wide variety of new and updated resources to support the new program. 

The RSV-MIPP is now providing pregnant women across Australia with free access to the maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo under the National Immunisation Program. The vaccine is offered to all pregnant women to protect their newborn infants and is recommended at 28–36 weeks gestation (though it can be given beyond 36 weeks gestation).

States and territories [PDF] will also offer nirsevimab (Beyfortus) free of charge to eligible infants as part of the program. Infants recommended to receive nirsevimab include babies born to mothers who did not receive RSV vaccine within two weeks of birth and infants at risk of severe disease from RSV infection.

RSV can cause a range of respiratory illnesses – from mild upper respiratory colds to severe lower respiratory conditions such as bronchiolitis (in infants) and pneumonia – and is the most common cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in children aged under 5 years.

Clinical trials and real-world effectiveness data have shown both Absrysvo and nirsevimab substantially decrease infants’ risk of hospitalisation from RSV infection in their early months of life. 
 

NCIRS’ RSV resources suite expands

To coincide with the launch of the RSV-MIPP, NCIRS has published a range of new and updated RSV resources for healthcare providers and the general public. 

Our popular RSV FAQs have been substantially revised to reflect the new program launch and recent updates to the Australian Immunisation Handbook RSV chapter. The other resources include:

• a new table that summarises state and territory nirsevimab (Beyfortus) for infants programs [PDF]
• a new resource that offers clinical guidance on RSV immunisation product administration errors 
• a new annotated visual summary of vaccine recommendations for pregnant women. 

Two Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) – Pregnancy & Newborn webpages have also been released to support conversations about RSV vaccination: 

• information about RSV disease and vaccine for pregnant women and their partners
• vaccination recommendations during the third trimester – information for pregnant women.

Meanwhile, the NCIRS webinar Australian RSV immunisation update – new funded programs for infant protection, held on 6 February, gave a comprehensive overview of RSV disease and its prevention, including an overview of the new RSV-MIPP and practical guidance for RSV immunisation in clinical settings. 

Videos of the webinar and the lively Q&A session that followed are now available on the NCIRS website.
 

Access the RSV resources