Australia Expands Vaccine Access: RSV and Meningococcal B Programs Announced for 2026
A $445.3 million federal investment targets older Australians for free RSV vaccination, while state governments move to fund meningococcal B shots for adolescents.
Federal RSV Vaccine Program
The Australian Federal Government is investing $445.3 million over five years to provide the GSK-manufactured RSV vaccine, Arexvy, free of charge under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) starting May 15, 2026.
Eligibility
The free vaccine is available to:
- Australians aged 75 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians aged 60 years and over
The Arexvy vaccine was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in 2024 following clinical trials involving approximately 25,000 older adults. The vaccine is described as an adjuvanted vaccine, developed with ingredients to boost waning immunity in older adults.
Health officials estimate the vaccine offers 80-90% protection against severe complications, with immunity lasting for approximately three years. No annual booster is currently recommended.
Administration
Eligible individuals can access the vaccine through general practitioners (GPs), pharmacies, immunisation clinics, and community or Aboriginal health services. Health practitioners advise that the RSV vaccine can be administered simultaneously with the influenza vaccine. Over 2 million older adults are estimated to be eligible for the program.
Context
In 2025, over 177,000 RSV cases were reported nationwide, including more than 40,000 in adults over 60. For adults aged 75 and over, 16,734 RSV cases were diagnosed in 2024. Fatalities from RSV are reported to be nearly four times higher in older adults compared with young children under five. Severe RSV was associated with nearly 500 deaths in the first nine months of 2025, though experts believe the true burden may be underestimated.
For adults aged 60 and over not eligible under the NIP, or those aged 50-59 at increased risk of RSV disease, the Arexvy vaccine is available privately at an approximate cost of $300 per dose.
Federal RSV Maternal and Infant Program
Since February 2025, pregnant women have had free access to the RSV vaccine under the NIP between 28 and 36 weeks gestation. Pregnant women receiving the vaccine pass antibodies to their baby, providing protection for up to six months. Newborns who did not receive protection during pregnancy are eligible for the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab through state and territory funded programs.
Preliminary Study Results
A preliminary analysis comparing 2024 and 2025 hospitalization data from 13 Australian hospitals found a 43.8% reduction in RSV admissions among infants under three months old. The study, conducted by The Kids Research Institute Australia, the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), and Monash University, also reported:
- A 20.1% reduction for infants aged three to six months
- An 8.5% reduction for those aged six to twelve months
Babies born to vaccinated mothers were 80% less likely to be hospitalized for RSV. Infants who received the monoclonal antibody were 90% less likely to be hospitalized.
A catch-up cohort (October 2024 to February 2025) receiving nirsevimab had an 87% lower risk of hospital admission. The preliminary results are undergoing peer review. Prior to the implementation of the RSV prevention program, about one in 50 children required hospitalization for RSV in their first year of life.
Uptake of Free RSV Vaccine
A survey conducted by the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, released during RSV Awareness Week in June 2026, found that 60% of eligible Australians (aged 75+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60+) had received or intended to receive the free RSV vaccine within three weeks of the program's launch. The survey included 1,011 eligible individuals.
Among respondents:
- 63% viewed RSV vaccination as equally important as influenza vaccination
- Among the one-third who were undecided, 76% had never heard of RSV or knew little about it, and 57% were unaware of the free vaccine
- 7% decided against vaccination; half of those cited general opposition to vaccines
Jurisdictional Meningococcal B Programs
Victoria
The Victorian Government announced it will provide free meningococcal B vaccinations to Year 10 students starting January 1, 2027. The program, funded with over $9 million, will be delivered through school immunisation programs, GPs, pharmacies, local councils, and Aboriginal health services.
The vaccine is currently available privately at a cost exceeding $250.
The rollout aligns with the existing meningococcal ACWY vaccine schedule for Year 10s under the NIP. The state is advocating for the Commonwealth to include the vaccine on the NIP. Health Minister Harriet Shing did not confirm whether the program would continue beyond 2027.
Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government announced a $4 million investment to fund free meningococcal B vaccinations, including catch-up doses, starting July 2026 as part of the 2026–27 Budget. At least two meningococcal disease cases have been reported in Tasmania in 2026, according to the Department of Health.
Key Statements from Organizations and Officials
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler stated that the program is designed to protect vulnerable residents ahead of the winter illness season and that expanding the NIP is part of ensuring access to vaccines at affordable prices.
RACGP President Dr. Michael Wright described the decision to include the RSV vaccine in the national program as "good progress" and noted that people over 60 with chronic health conditions are an additional group requiring further coverage.
Dr. Anthony Marinucci, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Aged Care, stated that extending NIP eligibility to people aged 60 and older with high-risk conditions would be "a logical and clinically justified next step."
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr. Anita Muñoz welcomed the Victorian MenB announcement for Year 10 students but called for expansion to infants, citing incidence in daycare settings. She argued for national consistency and stated that a proposal to include the MenB vaccine (Bexsero) in the NIP is under review by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).
RACGP Tasmania Chair Dr. Toby Gardner stated that the Tasmanian program fulfills an election commitment by the Tasmanian Liberals and makes the MenB vaccine accessible.
Catherine Hughes, Executive Director of Immunisation Foundation Australia, stated that the RSV inclusion highlights immunisation as a lifelong strategy and that lack of awareness is the main barrier to uptake among older Australians.
Professor Robert Booy of the University of Sydney stated that RSV can cause serious complications in older adults, including pneumonia, and that vaccination is the simplest way to reduce risk.
Professor Lucy Morgan of Lung Foundation Australia stated that the younger eligibility age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people acknowledges the higher burden of respiratory disease in these communities.