Part of the GP Vaccine Hub — all immunisation tools & NIP updates.
👩⚕️ Clinical reference for health professionals. This page summarises published clinical guidance and is not medical advice. Patients and members of the public: please don’t use this to make decisions about your own care — talk to your GP, pharmacist or treating team.
⚠️ Tier 2 — use clinical judgement. RSV recommendations and funding are evolving. Always verify at immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au before clinical decisions. Page last reviewed June 2026.
ATAGI indications, product comparison, co-administration, GBS risk, funding, and when to use the share-with-patient QR.
🇦🇺 AUATAGI / AIHJune 2026
📋 Sources — reviewed June 2026 (RSV funding and state/territory infant program details re-verified against live sources):
1. Australian Immunisation Handbook — RSV chapter. immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au ↗ 2. Dept of Health and Aged Care — RSV vaccine. health.gov.au ↗ 3. TGA — Australian Product Information: Arexvy and Abrysvo. tga.gov.au ↗ 4. TGA — Correct administration of RSV vaccine and antibody products (safety alert). tga.gov.au ↗ 5. NCIRS — RSV FAQs. ncirs.org.au ↗ 6. Australian Prescriber (2024) — RSV vaccines for older adults and pregnant women. australianprescriber.tg.org.au ↗ 7. Immunisation Coalition — State/territory RSV funding. immunisationcoalition.org.au ↗ 8. NCIRS — State/territory nirsevimab (Beyfortus) infant program summary. ncirs.org.au ↗
9. DVA — Veteran Gold Card — covers clinically necessary treatment for all medical conditions. dva.gov.au.
9. DVA — Providing treatment to DVA clients. dva.gov.au.
Editorial independence: This page was written and fact-checked independently by AskMyGP. No pharmaceutical company has had editorial input into, reviewed, or approved this content, and none has requested or received brand preference. Both RSV vaccines are described with equal prominence per ATAGI guidance. See our Editorial Independence & Funding policy.
Neither approved for children — use nirsevimab (Beyfortus) if eligible
State-funded programs
💳 DVA Gold Card holders: The RSV vaccine is covered for all conditions — the private cost barrier (~$280–350) does not apply. See DVA billing section below ↓
⚠️ Wrong product errors have been reported. Arexvy must NOT be given to pregnant women. Verify the product and indication at every administration. Source: TGA safety alert ↗
Infants are protected two ways under the National RSV Mother & Infant Protection Program (RSV-MIPP): maternal Abrysvo in pregnancy (transplacental antibody, NIP-funded), and nirsevimab (Beyfortus) — a long-acting monoclonal antibody given to the infant. Nirsevimab is funded by state and territory programs, not the national NIP, and is registered for use from birth.
💡 Medicare nuance: Eligibility for state-funded nirsevimab does not require a Medicare number, and the dose can be lodged on the AIR without one. By contrast, Abrysvo and Arexvy funding under the NIP is linked to Medicare eligibility.
Who is eligible (criteria vary by jurisdiction):
Infants in their first RSV season not protected by maternal vaccination (mother did not receive Abrysvo at least 2 weeks before birth), or with a risk condition for severe RSV — regardless of maternal status.
Children 8 months to under 24 months with risk conditions, entering their second RSV season.
A baby whose mother received Abrysvo at least 2 weeks before birth usually does not need nirsevimab — though some high-risk infants still may.
Dosing: single IM dose — 50 mg if <5 kg, 100 mg if ≥5 kg for the first season; protection lasts at least one RSV season (around 5 months). Children entering a second season receive a weight-appropriate dose — see the Handbook / state guidance. Palivizumab (Synagis) is an older monthly monoclonal antibody, hospital-only, now used only where nirsevimab is unavailable. Recording nirsevimab on the AIR is strongly encouraged.
⚠️ Program dates and birth-date windows vary by state/territory and reset each season. 2026 examples: VIC runs mid-March to 30 September 2026; QLD offers a dose year-round, ideally before discharge from the birthing hospital; WA covers babies born 1 October 2025–31 March 2026 (plus high-risk born 1 April–30 September 2026); NSW covers infants up to 6 months and high-risk children to 24 months, with catch-up. Check your own state or territory program for current eligibility and dates.
International post-marketing data identified a very small possible risk of GBS following RSV vaccination (Arexvy and Abrysvo) in adults aged 60 and over. Both product information documents have been updated. No GBS cases have been reported in Australia to date.
Clinical implication: Inform patients of this rare risk as part of the consent discussion. Advise them to seek urgent review if they develop tingling, numbness, or weakness in the limbs in the weeks following vaccination. The overall risk-benefit assessment remains favourable for recommended groups.
Gold Card — RSV vaccine is covered as clinically necessary treatment for a medical condition. The Gold Card covers all medical conditions, not just service-related ones. Bill DVA directly using standard vaccine administration MBS items. No prior approval required for MBS-listed services. Patient has no out-of-pocket cost.
White Card — Covered only if the patient has an accepted service-related condition that justifies RSV vaccination (e.g. COPD, chronic heart disease, diabetes, neurological condition). Check the patient's accepted conditions list in MyService before billing DVA. If no relevant accepted condition, patient pays privately or through Medicare.
Practical tip: DVA Gold Card veterans aged 70+ are likely in the ATAGI-recommended group for RSV vaccination. The vaccine cost is covered — this removes the private cost barrier (~$280–350) that prevents most non-veteran adults from vaccinating. Worth proactively offering at the annual health assessment (MBS 703/705/707).