Winter respiratory illnesses are often thought of as a nuisance that can keep you in bed and away from work or school for a few days. But if you’re susceptible to severe infection, they can land you in hospital.

Most people are familiar with influenza and COVID vaccines, which are recommended for people at higher risk of severe infection. But these don’t protect against another virus, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which tends to cause severe illness in young infants and older people.

To reduce this risk the government yesterday announced a vaccine to protect against RSV will be available for free for older people in Australia from May 15.

So who is eligible? And what should you consider if you’re thinking of getting vaccinated?

Remind me, what is RSV?

RSV is a virus similar to influenza, causing acute respiratory illness in winter. In temperate areas, reported RSV case numbers increase in autumn and winter and usually peak in June and July, a little before or around the same time as the flu season.

RSV spreads from person to person, either directly through contaminated secretions or indirectly by contaminated surfaces. People can be infectious before they report symptoms, and for around three to eight days after symptoms begin.

Like influenza, most infections are mild, with cough, fever, sore throat and runny nose.

In some people, the infection can then progress to the lungs, causing a viral pneumonia, with wheezing and shortness of breath.

RSV........

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