RSV Vaccinations
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, highly contagious virus that infects the airways and lungs. RSV spreads between people when an infected person produces small water droplets while talking, coughing or sneezing. The droplets can be inhaled by others or land on surfaces where the virus can live for several hours.
On 19 April the Australian Department of Health announced the introduction of RSV vaccination to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for older adults.
From 15 May 2026, RSV vaccination will be available for free for:
- all adults aged ≥ 75 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults ≥ 60 years.
Anyone who wants to protect themselves against RSV can talk to their health professional about getting vaccinated. The Government has released limited supplies of RSV vaccine free under the National Immunisation Program