The seasonal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infant Protection Program is an immunisation program available from April to September. The Infant Program provides a free infant RSV immunisation (brand name Beyfortus™) to babies and eligible young children.
What is the RSV infant immunisation?
The infant RSV immunisation gives babies ready-made antibodies. These antibodies take 2 to 3 days to provide protection and help protect babies from serious RSV illness for at least 5 months.
The RSV immunisation (Beyfortus™) is highly effective at reducing severe illness and hospitalisation in babies and infants. The Australian Immunisation Handbook publishes effectiveness data from overseas, indicating a 70-90% reduction in RSV related hospitalisation among infants during their first RSV season.
This immunisation works differently from a vaccine. Vaccines help the body make its own antibodies to fight an infection and can take 2 to 3 weeks to provide protection.
Eligible babies and children require one dose of the infant RSV immunisation to provide protection during the peak RSV season.
Eligibility
During the 2025 program free immunisation was offered to eligible babies under 8 months and some children under 2 years with certain high-risk health conditions.
Safety
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has tested and approved the infant RSV immunisation in Australia, and it has been proven to be safe and effective for babies and young children.
It is safe for your child to get the infant RSV immunisation either on its own or at the same appointment as their other routine childhood immunisations.
After the immunisation, it is still possible to get RSV, but it will usually be much milder.
The infant RSV immunisation can be given even if your child has had an RSV infection before.
Side effects
Most babies and children have no side effects. If they do, they may experience:
- fever
- pain, redness, and swelling where the injection site was given
- rash.
If any side effects occur, they usually start within a few hours and go away in 1 to 2 days.
If you are worried about side effects, speak to:
- your nurse, doctor or paediatrician
- healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
All unexpected side effects should be reported to your doctor, immunisation provider or directly to the Immunisation Section, SA Health. You can phone the Immunisation Section on 1300 232 272 Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.