WA AND QLD RSV IMMUNISATION PROGRAMS SHOW SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN INFANT HOSPITALISATIONS Consumer and HCP awareness, advocacy focus until national program decision is reversed
Filmed Perth, Western Australia | October 2024
RSV is the number one cause of hospitalisation of Australian children under five years of age, according to the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA). There are mounting concerns that Australians at greatest risk of severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV will miss out on protection against the lung infection, with the Federal Government failing to commit to a national RSV immunisation program.
Associate Professor Hannah Moore OAM, Program Head of Infections and Vaccines at the Kids Research Institute Australia, met with Australian Health Journal to discuss the impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) on children and immunisation showing evidence of a significant reduction in hospitalisations.
She talks about RSV causing chest infections in babies and adults, with most children being infected by the age of three. However, certain groups face higher disease rates, and infants under six months are particularly vulnerable, with up to one in 30 being hospitalised. Even older children up to five years old experience hospitalisation rates for RSV around one in 500 children.
Australian Health Journal also spoke with Catherine Hughes, the Founder and Executive Director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA), on the need for RSV immunisations to be included in the National Immunisation Plan to ensure equitable access for vulnerable Australians. RSV immunisation programs in Western Australia and Queensland are showing promising results, leading to a significant reduction in hospitalisations. This is in contrast with the disappointment in the PBAC recently rejecting a national RSV vaccine push.
“Australia urgently needs a nationwide RSV immunisation program,” said Catherine Hughes AM, Founder and Director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia.
IFA aims to raise awareness of RSV severity and has launched the “Unite Against RSV” campaign to provide resources for the clinical community and families. Additionally, vaccines for adults over 60 and pregnant women, as well as antibody therapy for infants, have been approved to combat RSV. The Foundation also provides regular updates on policy changes related to RSV to clinicians and other providers through its website and email subscriptions.
Efforts are being made to ensure that all Australians, especially vulnerable individuals, have access to affordable RSV immunisations. The Foundation’s advocacy work aims to include RSV immunisations on the National Immunisation Plan to guarantee easy access for all Australian families. The success of RSV immunisation programs in Western Australia and Queensland mounts the evidence on the positive impact of proactive measures in combating RSV.
-
Foundation outlines breast cancer research strategy
Australian Health Journal met with Associate Professor Cleola Anderiesz, CEO of the National Breast Cancer Foundation to hear of the new 5 year Pink Horizon research strategy. Those with lived experience of breast cancer, along with researchers, clinicians, and other funding organisations, have contributed to the development of the foundation’s new five-year Pink Horizon research strategy. This ambitious plan aims to invest $125 million to accelerate research efforts towards the vision of ending deaths from breast cancer.
-
A New Era in Primary Health Care Nursing
Coinciding with this year’s International Nurses Day, this week’s Federal Budget has had some significant outcomes for the primary health care, nursing workforce.
The Federal Budget delivered on 9th May 2023, APNA believes will strengthen Australia’s primary health care (PHC) system by addressing growing nursing shortages, seeing more nurses hired where they are needed, and better utilising the largest workforce in PHC of nearly 100,000 nurses to their full potential to reduce the pressure on the health system.
-
Peak body in child and family services urges prioritising healthcare for kids in care
The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (the Centre) is calling on the Australian Government to prioritise healthcare access for children in out-of-home care.
“We have many amazing young people in care with huge potential, but they’re not set up for success,” said Deb Tsorbaris, CEO “Young people and workers tell us that access to health and education assessments is a huge disadvantage.”
