Queensland’s expanding RSV immunisation program
Queensland Health wrote to AMA Queensland on 21 November 2024 further detailing the rollout of the maternal RSV vaccine. They then held a webinar on Queensland’s expanding RSV immunisation program on Thursday 28 November 2024.
Queensland Health invited all immunisation providers to attend a webinar on Queensland’s expanding RSV immunisation program, with a particular focus on the inclusion of the maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo®) commencing from December 2024.
The webinar was held on Thursday 28 November 2024 at 10-10:45am
Dr Stephen Lambert, Public Health Physician, Department of Health, presented the webinar, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.
This webinar was recorded for those who were unable to attend. It is yet to be disseminated by Queensland Health, but we will share it with members on this page once we receive it.
Updated clinical guidance and provider resources is available online at the Queensland Paediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention Program website.
Queensland Health wrote to AMA Queensland on 21 November 2024 further detailing the rollout of the maternal RSV vaccine. Below is a brief summary of the letter.
The Australian Government recently announced that the maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) will be made available as part of the NIP ahead of Winter 2025.
Following the success of Queensland's infant RSV immunisation program, which utilises the monoclonal antibody product nirsevimab, and the recent Australian Government's announcement, Queensland will introduce the maternal RSV vaccine from 1 December 2024. This expanded approach, commencing ahead of the NIP listing of Abrysvo, will further protect the state's newborn infants and young children against serious RSV disease.
From 1 December 2024, the Abrysvo vaccine can be offered to all pregnant people in Queensland between 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. When administered in pregnancy, the vaccine provides protection to newborn infants against severe RSV from birth for up to six months. State-funded Abrysvo is not for use with non-pregnant people.
Vaccine service providers will be able to order this vaccine from the Queensland Health Imunisation Program from Monday 25 November 2024 as part of their vaccine orders.
Nirsevimab will continue to be available to order for infants that are not protected by maternal RSV vaccine in utero, or where they ar erecommended to receive nirsevimab as outline in the Australian Immunisation Handbook. An updated version of the Queensland nirsevimab clinical guidance and resources was made available on 25 November 2024.
