The Cook Government has announced a significant new health initiative, providing free respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations to older West Australians residing in aged care homes. This $2.6 million program, set to commence in mid-May, aims to protect approximately 15,000 residents this year, bolstering their health during the winter months.
For the first time, the Arexvy® RSV vaccine, which typically costs around $300 privately, will be made available at no cost to all people aged 65 and over in residential aged care homes. This program is expected to significantly reduce the severity of RSV infections and the risk of serious complications among this vulnerable population.
This new program builds on the success of Western Australia’s existing immunisation strategies. The Cook government introduced a nation-leading RSV immunisation program for babies under 12 months of age in 2024, which has since significantly reduced the number of hospitalisations of infants over winter.