Free vaccinations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be available to older Australians from next month, amid concerns about people catching the potentially serious virus from their grandchildren or in aged care.
All Australians aged 75 and older and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 and over will be able to receive the free vaccine from May 15.
The expansion of the federal government’s free vaccination program, which provides the vaccine to pregnant women, comes ahead of winter, which is the peak season for infection.
Older people face heightened risk from RSV, which is a common respiratory virus that can require hospitalisation or in some cases cause death in vulnerable people.
The vaccine, which is typically a single lifetime dose for older people, would have otherwise cost $300.
It is available through local health services, including GPs, immunisation clinics, participating pharmacies and Aboriginal health services.
Aged care residents are especially vulnerable to the spread of the infection due to shared living quarters.
“I encourage eligible Australians to protect themselves and their community this winter by getting vaccinated against RSV,” federal Health Minister Mark Butler said.
The government has committed $445.3 million to free access to the RSV vaccine for eligible Australians via the National Immunisation Program.
State programs provide the vaccine free to some eligible infants. More than 225,000 mothers have received the maternal RSV vaccine to protect their babies from serious illness since the free jabs were first made available in February last year.
This has resulted in a 10 per cent reduction in RSV cases for young children, which have fallen from 86,000 in 2024 to 78,000 in 2025.
Sydney School of Medicine head of general practice Professor Charlotte Hespe said RSV had been under-recognised as a serious health threat in older adults.
“Enabling older Australians to access a funded RSV vaccine is a proactive step towards prevention,” Hespe said. “[It] can be given at the same time as the flu jab, making appointments more time efficient.”
With older people playing an increasingly important role in childcare, National Seniors Australia chief executive Chris Grice said the free vaccination program was a positive response to changing demographics.
“Many are actively involved in caring for grandchildren, which can increase their exposure to RSV,” Grice said.
“RSV is easily spread among family members, so it’s important for older adults to be aware of the risk and impact to their health.
“This funding recognises the risks and supports older people to make informed decisions about protecting their health.”
Butler also encouraged people to get a flu shot before winter.
“Booking yourself and your family in for a flu vaccine each year is the safest and most effective way to protect yourselves and others against influenza,” he said.
“No two influenza seasons are the same, and the flu can spread all year round, so it’s never too late to get vaccinated.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Mike Foley is the climate and energy correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
