Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) has approved the use of the protein-based immune-boosting vaccine Arexvy to combat the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The vaccine will be available on prescription for those over 60.
RSV is one of 200 cold-causing viruses and is considered contagious and produces symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat, and body aches.
In rare instances, more serious chest infections like pneumonia or bronchiolitis, ear infections, and worsening asthma can develop.
It typically affects children, but people over 60, and those with comorbidities and diminished immunity are more likely to become severely ill and require hospitalisation.
In 2023, reported cases of RSV increased compared to 2022, with large numbers being seen in every state—barring Queensland.
However, the figures may have been skewed by an upsurge in testing adopted as a legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conversely, some medical authorities have speculated that a lapse in COVID prevention practices, such as handwashing and mask usage, due to pandemic fatigue may have contributed to the rise in cases.
The Federal government’s National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System confirmed 127,944 cases of RSV in Australia in 2023.
People over 60 made up 27,440 of the cases, while children under five recorded 64,000 infections.
While most children can shake off the infection after appropriate rest, those with conditions including diabetes or immunity deficiencies can be at risk of serious symptoms that may require hospitalisation.
“We know that this is not just a paediatric disease—it’s a disease that affects all ages, particularly those aged 60 plus,” Brisbane GP Anita Sharma said.
“Older patients see a decline in their immunity due to a phenomenon called immunosenescence, which means they cannot mount a good immune response when exposed to the virus.”
In May, GlaxoSmithKline produced Arexvy, the first vaccine approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration against RSV in the United States after conclusive and exceptional efficacy data from the positive pivotal AReSVi-006 phase III trial was published.
The Immunisation Foundation of Australia welcomed the approval and increased protection for those most at risk:
“The announcement of RSV vaccines ... is a success story for medical research,” the foundation’s director Catherine Hughes said.
The vaccine’s side effects include injection site pain, reported in 61 percent of recipients in the U.S. trial.
Fatigue was felt by 34 percent of respondents, while 29 percent had muscle aches, 27 percent had headaches, and 18 percent reported joint pain.
