The Therapeutic Goods Administration has recently approved the first vaccine against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for use in Australia. It has been approved for patients older than 60 years. It will initially be available by private prescription.
RSV is a common respiratory virus which peaks in winter and which can cause major respiratory illness, especially in those with pre-existing lung disease. The vaccine is a non-live vaccination, meaning it can be used in those who are already immunosuppressed, and it has already been approved for use in many other Western countries. The vaccination is given as a single dose.
The main evidence supporting the use of this vaccine comes from an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2023 which can be found here . In this large trial involving nearly 25,000 people, vaccine efficacy was 82.6% against RSV infection and 94.1% against severe RSV infection. Although all vaccines have rare risks, the safety profile of this vaccination was good.
Patients older than 60 years should see their General Practitioner to discuss the benefits of being vaccinated against RSV. Dr Crowhurst will also be pleased to discuss this during his consultations and feels this is an important new tool to protect those with underlying lung conditions.
More information can be found here.
