Free rollout of RSV immunisations for seniors knocked back by Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee

Australians most at risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus could miss out on protection against the highly infectious disease after a decision to not nationally rollout free immunisations for seniors and infants. On Friday, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee rejected applications to fund two RSV immunisations — Arexvy for seniors and Beyfortus for infants — meaning those at-risk of severe RSV will have to fork out hundreds of dollars or go without the immunisation. Immunisations are free for infants in WA after the State Government rolled out a program in April but for anyone over 60 it costs up to $350 to get jabbed to prevent against RSV. People over 65 are 6.6 times more likely to end up in hospital from RSV with more than 1000 older West Australians already contracting the respiratory infection this year. IImmunisation Foundation Australia chief executive Catherine Hughes said the decision to not add any RSV immunisations to the National Immunisation Program left vulnerable Australians at unnecessary and avoidable risk. “Australia urgently needs a nationwide RSV immunisation program,” she said. “RSV is the number one cause of hospitalisation of Australian babies. RSV is also a leading cause of severe illness and death in older Australians. “For the first time, the Australian Government could help protect against severe RSV and keep thousands out of hospital … Protection against RSV should not be determined by where you live, nor how much money you have.” In its reasoning for not recommending the immunisation for seniors, the PBAC said the cost effectiveness was “unacceptably high”. Pharmaceutical company Glaxosmithkline, which owns the Arexvy immunisation, said it was disappointed by the decision but would continue to work with the PBAC to “ensure older adults are protected against lower respiratory tract illness caused by RSV”. The decision comes after the highly infectious disease caused four deaths in WA between March and June with all of those being over the age of 70 compared to only one fatality for the same period in 2023.