The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the improved availability of the federally funded maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo, under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), saving parents over $300 each on private immunisation costs.
RSV remains a leading cause of childhood hospitalisation, with around 12,000 infants admitted to hospitals with severe RSV every winter. Maternal immunisation significantly reduces the risk of severe RSV disease in children in their first six months.
As a vaccine listed on the NIP, funding of the administration of the vaccine by community pharmacists will be covered under the NIP Vaccination in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program in participating community pharmacies.
However, due to an outdated regulatory approach, many states will need to amend their regulations to permit pharmacists to immunise this cohort against RSV.
National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS welcomed the addition of RSV vaccines to the NIP, urging governments to update regulations now to permit pharmacist immunisers to administer as soon as vaccines are available.
“PSA welcomes the inclusion of Abrysvo on the NIP as an important protection against hospitalisation or death of infants from severe RSV infection and also congratulate Minister Butler and the federal government for their leadership in limiting preventable disease in children,” Associate Professor Sim said.
“Now that the vaccine has been added to the NIP, we must ensure that pregnant people are able to access it, no matter where they live.
“We need to move to an approach where all immunisers, including pharmacists, can initiate and administer all vaccines, as recommended by the Unleashing the Potential of the Health Workforce Scope of Practice Review.
“I urge all states and territories to expand immunisation authorities to allow Australians to access all vaccines they are recommended from their local pharmacist, including Abrysvo,” Associate Professor Sim concluded.
