Immunisation Weekly Update:

• RSV immunisation offers powerful protection for vulnerable populations
• WHO updates pneumococcal vaccine advice for children under 5 years
• Education

RSV immunisation offers powerful protection for vulnerable populations

Two recently published studies highlight the safety and efficacy of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation products – from childhood to later in life.

A study from Spain has demonstrated that long-acting monoclonal antibody nirsevimab continues to protect infants through their second RSV season.

Infants immunised with nirsevimab had a substantially reduced risk of hospitalisation compared with non-immunised infants by the end of the first RSV season – with hosptalisation rates remaining lower in immunised infants into the second season.

Meanwhile, a Cochrane systematic review showed that RSV vaccines reduce the risk of serious illness for those most susceptible to poor outcomes from RSV infection. Researchers found:

• older adults who received a PRE-fusion vaccine – such as Arexvy or Abrysvo – had a 77% reduction in RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease and a 67% drop in acute respiratory illness
• pregnant women who had a maternal RSV F protein‐based vaccine – such as Abrysvo – passed immunity on to their babies, with a 74% and 54% decrease in the risk of severe RSV disease and hospitalisation, respectively, in these infants.

Importantly, the review found no significant increase in serious side effects across age groups, reinforcing the safety of these vaccines. AusVaxSafety surveillance data on RSV vaccines Arexvy and Abrysvo affirm the safety of these vaccines.

In Australia, RSV immunisation is recommended for:

• older adults
• pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation (Abrysvo only) to protect their infant
• babies aged under 8 months whose mothers did not receive a dose of Abrysvo during pregnancy or who were born within two weeks of the mother receiving Abrysvo (nirsevimab only)
• anyone at increased risk of severe RSV disease.

Source: NCIRS Weekly Jab newsletter 10 October 2025. Subscribe here: ncirs.org.au/user/register

WHO updates pneumococcal vaccine advice for children under 5 years

The World Health Organisation Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (WHO-SAGE) has endorsed high coverage of a 3-dose infant schedule as the single most effective approach to prevent pneumococcal disease in its 2025 position paper.

The updated global guidance reviews the current literature on the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) into routine immunisation childhood schedules, including the impact on reducing the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and serotype replacement with non-vaccine serotypes.

It also highlights evidence indicating that higher valency PCVs – particularly those containing 20 or more serotypes – provide a broader level of protection against pneumococcal infection and IPD than 13 valency vaccines.

In Australia, 20vPCV – administered in a 3-dose schedule at 2, 4 and 12 months of age – is the standard pneumococcal vaccine for children and adolescents across all states and territories under the recent National Immunisation Program Schedule changes.

NCIRS’ recent webinar on pneumococcal vaccination in children and adolescents – alongside updated pneumococcal vaccines FAQs resource – comprehensively outlines pneumococcal vaccine recommendations and eligibility in Australia.

Source: NCIRS Weekly Jab newsletter 10 October 2025. Subscribe here: ncirs.org.au/user/register

Education