Why is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination recommended for me?

Key facts

  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in babies can cause serious illness and complications. When a mother has the RSV vaccine during pregnancy, it gives her baby much-needed protection against RSV at birth.

  • There is strong evidence showing that RSV vaccines are safe in pregnancy and help prevent serious illness in newborn babies and infants.

  • Women can get the RSV vaccine for free in each pregnancy from 28 weeks (i.e. in their third trimester).

Last updated on 27 July 2026.

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What are the risks of RSV for my baby?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common infection. In Australia, almost all children catch it before they are 2 years old.1 It usually starts with a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever and wheezing. In some babies, RSV can worsen and cause breathing problems due to bronchiolitis or pneumonia. RSV is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation for babies under 12 months of age, even among babies who are otherwise healthy.2-4

How can I protect my baby from RSV?

The most effective way to protect your baby in the first months of life is to be vaccinated against RSV during pregnancy. In Australia, the Abrysvo RSV vaccine from 28 weeks of pregnancy and is free under the National Immunisation Program.

You can get the RSV vaccine at the same time as other recommended maternal vaccines like influenza and whooping cough (pertussis). It is recommended that you receive the RSV vaccine in every pregnancy to protect each baby.

Why is the RSV vaccine recommended for pregnant women?

Vaccinating in pregnancy helps protect newborns from birth, when they are most vulnerable to severe RSV.

The RSV vaccine works by ‘training’ your body’s immune system to recognise and get rid of the RSV virus. It contains tiny fragments of the inactivated virus, called antigens. When your immune system detects the vaccine antigens, it produces antibodies to fight and get rid of the virus. 

After you are vaccinated, the antibodies made by your body are passed to your baby via the placenta. This reduces the chance that your baby will need medical care for RSV after they are born. It can take at least 2 weeks for antibodies to build up and transfer to your baby. To allow enough time for this to happen, it is recommended that you get the RSV vaccination from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Protection lasts until your baby is around 4 to 6 months old.5,6 

See ‘How will the vaccine affect my baby?’ for more information.

Is the RSV vaccine safe?

Yes, the Absyrvo RSV vaccine is safe for pregnant mothers and their babies. It was approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in 2024 and added to the National Immunisation Program in early 2025.1

Although new to Australia, the RSV vaccine has been used since 2024 in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Large studies have been conducted with pregnant women that show the vaccine is safe7,8 and that it does not increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.7,9,10 Pre-term birth rates are similar in vaccinated and unvaccinated women9 and continue to be closely monitored. 

The only medical reason not to have the RSV vaccine is if you have previously had an anaphylactic reaction to a component of the RSV vaccine.

How effective is the RSV vaccine?

Vaccination during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of severe RSV illness in babies by around 70 per cent in the first 6 months of life.7 Babies whose mothers are vaccinated are also around 60 per cent less likely to be hospitalised with RSV in the first 6 months of life.7

Will I have a reaction to the RSV vaccine?

Common side effects include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, mild fever, muscle pain, joint pain and nausea.7,11

If your symptoms last longer than a couple of days, or if you are worried about how you feel after your vaccination, you can get help from your doctor, nearest emergency department or by calling Health Direct on 1800 022 222.

Are there any rare and/or serious effects to the vaccine?

Severe side effects are rare. A very small number of people have a severe allergic reaction to vaccines called anaphylaxis, where they can develop swelling, hives, breathing difficulties, lowered blood pressure and, in severe cases, shock. This is very rare and occurs in about one in a million people who have a vaccination.12 Midwives, nurses, pharmacists and GPs are trained to respond to an anaphylactic reaction with quick delivery of adrenaline.

Clinical trials show no difference in the rates of serious adverse events in babies born to pregnant women who received the RSV vaccine compared with babies born to women who received a placebo.7,11

What about the RSV monoclonal antibody?

Babies born less than 2 weeks after their mother is vaccinated may be recommended an RSV monoclonal antibody (Beyfortus) vaccine product for additional protection.13 A monoclonal antibody gives a baby ready-made antibodies that provide similar protection to vaccination during pregnancy. This is also used for babies who need extra protection because they are more at risk of serious illness. 

In Australia, the age range for babies and children to be eligible for free immunisation with the RSV monoclonal antibody Beyfortus depends on the state or territory you are living in. For more information, see this summary of state and territory programs.

What else can I do to protect my child from RSV?

You can also keep small babies away from people who are sick and encourage anyone in the household who is unwell to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze, wash their hands regularly and wear a mask.

  1. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Australian Immunisation Handbook. May 2026. Available from: https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv(accessed 8 July 2026).
  2. Lively JY, Curns AT, Weinberg GA, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus-associated outpatient visits among children younger than 24 months. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society 2019;8:284-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpids/piz011 
  3. Moore HC, de Klerk N, Keil AD, et al. Use of data linkage to investigate the aetiology of acute lower respiratory infection hospitalisations in children. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 2012;48:520-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02229.x 
  4. Suh M, Movva N, Jiang X, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus is the leading cause of United States infant hospitalizations, 2009-2019: a study of the national (nationwide) inpatient sample. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2022;226:S154-S63. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiac120 
  5. Fleming JA, Baral R, Higgins D, et al. Value profile for respiratory syncytial virus vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. Vaccine 2023;41:S7-S40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.09.081 
  6. Caserta MT, O'Leary ST, Munoz FM, et al. Palivizumab prophylaxis in infants and young children at increased risk of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus infection. Pediatrics 2023;152:e2023061803. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-061803 
  7. Kampmann B, Madhi SA, Munjal I, et al. Bivalent prefusion F vaccine in pregnancy to prevent RSV illness in infants. New England Journal of Medicine 2023;388:1451-64. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2216480 
  8. Simões EAF, Center KJ, Tita ATN, et al. Prefusion F protein-based respiratory syncytial virus immunization in pregnancy. New England Journal of Medicine 2022;386:1615-26. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2106062 
  9. Michnick AI, MacDonald SC, Cosgrove A, et al. Interim safety of RSVpreF vaccination during pregnancy. JAMA 2026;335(5):456-59. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.23452 
  10. Kitano T, Sado T, Tsuzuki S, et al. Maternal safety outcomes of respiratory syncytial vaccination during pregnancy with a large-scale database. Npj Vaccines 2026;11:53. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-026-01373-4 
  11. Simoes EAF, Center KR, Tita ATN, et, al. A phase 2B placebo-controlled, randomized study of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine in pregnant women. National Library of Medicine website October 2022. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04032093?tab=results (accessed 8 July 2026). 
  12. McNeil MM, Weintraub ES, Duffy J, et al. Risk of anaphylaxis after vaccination in children and adults. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2016;137:868-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2015.07.048
  13. Kong KL, Krishnaswamy S, Giles ML. Maternal vaccinations. Australian Journal of General Practice 2020;49:630-5.  https://doi.org/10.31128/ajgp-02-20-5243