ATAGI has recently recommended that pregnant women receive an RSV vaccination during pregnancy. Similar to the whooping cough vaccine, immunising the mother means a boost in antibodies which pass across the placenta and the baby is born with immunity. RSV is the virus that causes bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the little airways of the lungs. In Babies under 6 months this often means an admission to hospital for oxygen therapy and help with keeping their fluids up whilst they get better. Vaccinating the mother at least 2 weeks prior to birth decreases the risk of a baby getting seriously unwell and needing hospital admission by 70%.

From April 2025 this will be covered by Medicare in Victoria the same as the Whooping Cough Vaccine. For now, women have an option of getting vaccinated privately between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. I am happy to write you a script which you can fill at the chemist and bring back to the rooms to be given by our midwives. At the moment it costs about $350 but if you have private health insurance you may well get a lot of this back if you send in the receipt.