WHILE the state government's $11 million immunisation program has reached a major milestone with 20,000 children now protected from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the call is out for more children to be protected.

As reported in Woodbridge mother puts spotlight on RSV virus risk (Echo News, June 16, 2023) RSV is a highly infectious respiratory virus that infects up to two-thirds of all babies in their first year of life and, every year, hospitalises more than 1000 infants in WA.

Parents who have not had their eligible babies immunised are encouraged to book an appointment with their GP, Community Health Clinic or Aboriginal Medical Service that provide childhood immunisation. Parents of newborns will be offered the immunisation before they leave hospital.

Babies born from October 1, 2023, Aboriginal children and some medically at high-risk children born from October 1, 2022, as well as newborns in birthing hospitals, can receive Nirsevimab for free until the end of September this year.

The RSV immunisation program is expected to prevent thousands of emergency department presentations and GP consultations this year.

WA was the first state to introduce a free RSV immunisation of the antibody Nirsevimab for eligible children earlier this year, which protects infants for up to five months to cover the duration of the average winter RSV season.

Recently published data from the Northern Hemisphere shows that for every 25 doses of Nirsevimab administered, one RSV-related hospitalisation is prevented.

This means that WA's RSV immunisation program has so far prevented 760 hospitalisations this year, which is a huge game changer for paediatric medicine.

While WA's RSV season is just beginning, data through to the end of July shows that RSV-associated hospitalisations among Nirsevimab-eligible babies aged under eight months are down 53 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said she encouraged all parents of eligible children yet to get their babies immunised from RSV to book an appointment with their local provider to ensure their newborns are immunised against this highly infectious disease.

For more information on the free RSV immunisation program visit www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Respiratory-syncytial-virus-RSV-immunisation