RSV immunisation program halves hospital admissions in first year, reduces risk of admission by 90 per cent

WA’s free nation-leading RSV immunisation program has been branded a roaring success after it slashed the number of RSV-related hospital admissions by more than half in just 12 months.

With about 1000 infants admitted to hospital with the virus in WA each year, it means more than 500 families avoided hospital stays last winter.

The Australian-first study, led by WA Health, researchers at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccine and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia and funded by Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, also found the immunisation itself dramatically reduced the risk of hospital admission by almost 90 per cent.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is highly infectious and is the leading cause of hospital admissions for infants across Australia.

It can lead to severe respiratory tract infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, and can quickly become life-threatening.

Last year, WA became the first State to roll out a free RSV immunisation program for babies born throughout the winter season, with a strong uptake.

The long-acting immunisation, nirsevimab, provides babies with ready-made antibodies that can protect them against RSV for up to five months.

“More than 24,000 doses of nirsevimab were distributed throughout April to September last year, providing coverage to 85 per cent of newborns and 66 per cent of a ‘catch-up’ cohort of babies in the lead-up to their first winter season,” consultant paediatrician Ushma Wadia said.

The REVIVE study, led by Dr Wadia, worked with WA Health to evaluate admission rates at Perth Children’s Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Joondalup Health Campus.

Published in The Journal of Infection, the study also found nirsevimab recipients were 60 per cent less likely to require oxygen or other breathing assistance if admitted with RSV.

“(It) allowed us to become the first place in the southern hemisphere to successfully demonstrate the major impact of RSV immunisation in young babies,” Dr Wadia said.

For Charlotte Duffy, it gave her confidence that her twin babies would be protected when she took them home. She welcomed Finn and Ember five weeks early last year.

“They both had breathing trouble to start with, they had respiratory issues,” Ms Duffy said.

“Finn in particular took a while to manage his breathing himself. They both spent nearly a month at PCH when they were born.”

Ms Duffy said they were offered the RSV immunisation before being discharged.

“There wasn’t much hesitation,” she said.

“We were keen to take it up, just to give them that extra protection when we got home. It gave us a bit more confidence taking them home as well.”

With the twins about to celebrate their first birthday, Ms Duffy said the study’s results were “amazing”.

“The vaccine research is really important and I’m really grateful that we got it (the RSV immunisations),” she said.

“Hopefully, it’s something that will continue to be available and accessible for everyone.

“I would be a strong advocate for it (the program) to continue.”

Professor Chris Blyth, head of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases and a PCH physician, said researchers had spent the past two decades participating in global vaccine studies to develop safe and effective RSV immunisations.

“The data gained from the REVIVE study aligns with outcomes from research conducted in the northern hemisphere and can now be used as evidence to inform vaccine policy throughout the world, including in lower-income countries where morbidity rates for RSV are at their highest,” Prof. Blyth said.

The success of WA’s program also contributed to the rollout of a national program now available to all pregnant women and newborns in a bid to keep 10,000 Australian babies out of hospital each year.