Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of severe lower respiratory infection in infants worldwide. It puts thousands of Australian babies in hospital every winter. The good news: a maternal RSV vaccine, given between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, has been shown to reduce severe RSV in newborns by around 70% in the first months of life.
How it works
Pregnant people produce antibodies in response to the vaccine, and those antibodies cross the placenta and circulate in the baby’s bloodstream for the first months after birth, exactly the window of highest risk. It’s essentially passive immunity, transferred mother to baby, much like the way maternal whooping cough vaccination works.
Who is eligible
The maternal RSV vaccine is recommended for everyone in their third trimester (28–36 weeks). It is funded under the National Immunisation Program. It is given as a single dose. If you’re due before 28 weeks, your baby may instead be eligible for a monoclonal antibody injection at birth, your antenatal team will discuss this with you.
What about safety?
Maternal RSV vaccination has been extensively studied in pregnancy. The most common side effects are mild, local soreness, fatigue or a low-grade fever for a day or two. Serious side effects are very rare. As with all vaccinations, the 15-minute observation period applies after the dose.
What it doesn’t do
- It doesn’t replace whooping cough (dTpa) vaccination, which is also recommended in every pregnancy.
- It doesn’t replace the seasonal flu vaccine, which is recommended in any trimester.
- It doesn’t protect you from RSV in older age, older adults receive a different RSV vaccine.
Where to get it
Most people receive maternal vaccines through their antenatal team, GP or midwife. Pharmacist immunisers can also administer them under Victorian scope of practice; we recommend you mention it at your routine antenatal visit and coordinate timing with your obstetrician or midwife. If you’d prefer to come to the pharmacy, walk in or book, bring a copy of your antenatal record.
Sources & further reading
General information only. This article is educational and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Your immuniser will confirm eligibility and contraindications on the day.
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