RSV vaccination will be funded for older adults

Yesterday (19 April) the federal government announced RSV vaccination will soon be funded for older Australians on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) to ensure protection against this ‘common and potentially deadly virus’.

Yesterday (19 April) the federal government announced RSV vaccination will soon be funded for older Australians on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) to ensure protection against this ‘common and potentially deadly virus’.

‘I encourage eligible Australians to protect themselves and their community this winter by getting vaccinated against RSV,’ said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

PSA National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, said the federal government’s decision  will safeguard the health of many Australians who, without this vaccine, could face severe illness, hospitalisation or death.

‘Older Australians who receive their RSV vaccine will be protected not just this winter, but for many winters, as this vaccine provides protection against this potentially debilitating illness for a number of years,’ he said.

‘Until being added to the NIP, the vaccine was costing older patients around $300. Removing this cost will go a long way toward protecting the respiratory health of those most at-risk of severe RSV and its complications.’

Here are the 6 things pharmacists need to know ahead of the May 2026 rollout.

1. Who is now funded under the NIP?

The NIP has added older Australians, who are significantly at risk of severe complications from RSV infection. 

This includes:

• all Australians aged 75 and older 
• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 and over.

Patients living in residential aged care facilities are a particularly vulnerable cohort due to regular interaction with personnel and visitors.

2. Which RSV vaccine is funded for older Australians?

While there are two RSV vaccines approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for older Australians, only the Arexvy vaccine is included under the widened NIP funding.

Abrysvo continues to be NIP-listed for pregnant people.

3. When does the NIP listing commence?

Soon, but not immediately. 

Older Australians can receive their NIP-funded RSV vaccine from 15 May at their local pharmacy, GP clinic or Aboriginal Health Service. 

While the RSV vaccine can be administered any time, protection against the virus is recommended ahead of winter.

4. Will booster doses be required?

At the moment, no. 

The Australian Immunisation Handbook stated that a single dose of RSV vaccine is recommended to protect older people with currently no recommendations for booster doses.

In its July 2025 meeting, Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) suggested there was clinical evidence for the  Arexvy vaccine to provide protection for up to three seasons, or 3 years.

Additional monitoring and data will be needed to confirm if and when a RSV vaccine booster dose is recommended in future.

5. What was the reason behind the decision?

The government’s announcement follows a recent positive PBAC recommendation.

After an initial rejection in 2024 based on ‘unacceptably high’ pricing, PBAC provided a positive recommendation for funding for Arexvy under the NIP in July 2025. 

The decision was made after the manufacturer of Arexvy, GSK, lowered the cost of the vaccine enough to make the NIP rollout cost effective – along with the ‘high clinical need’ for funded vaccines to reduce the risk of RSV in older adults.

6. What does ATAGI have to say?

The new eligible cohorts match the current ATAGI advice for RSV vaccination. Last year, ATAGI also released a Statement on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation products and prevention of administration errors following numerous incidents of both infants and pregnant women being administered the wrong vaccine.

With more RSV vaccines now likely to be administered, pharmacists should follow the suggested advice for vaccine handling in the ATAGI statement, including:

• clearly labelling storage areas and trays for specific populations, such as pregnant people and older adults
• storing infant and child vaccines in dedicated, separate sections of the refrigerator.
• displaying reminders or warning signs in consultation rooms and storage areas to maintain high error awareness
• implementing procedural checklists to ensure the correct vaccine is selected for specific demographics
• regularly updating clinical systems and enabling alert functions to provide automated safety nets against administration errors.

For more information on RSV vaccination, complete the AP CPD Respiratory syncytial virus: a guide for pharmacists.