When Teal learned she was pregnant with her first child, she wanted to do all she could to give her baby a strong start in life. That included getting vaccinated against Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV.
"In autumn, with a winter birth ahead, we knew the risks,” she says.
“When I found out the new RSV vaccine was available to pregnant women, I booked in immediately."
Teal got the jab at 32 weeks, days after it became available under the National Immunisation Program.
The vaccination will help her keep her baby son, Artie, safe from the increasingly common and dangerous virus.
The threat of RSV to newborns
While RSV might not be a household name, doctors say it should be.
With an estimated 33 million cases a year, RSV is the leading cause of severe respiratory illness in infants globally. But the danger lies not in its prevalence - it's who it hits the hardest.
Prof. Michelle Giles, infectious diseases expert at the Women's, says it is a virus that preys on the very young.
"Almost half of all RSV deaths occur in babies under six months old," she explains.
"And when we look at hospitalisations, that group makes up nearly 40 per cent of all serious cases."
Most severe cases happen in full-term newborns. These babies are healthy but haven't built any immunity yet. Premature infants and those with health issues are at a higher risk, but it's the term babies who are most affected globally.
A new chapter in infant protection
In a world-first, Australia launched a national RSV prevention program in early 2025. This program offers maternal RSV vaccination and monoclonal antibodies. It aims to protect babies from birth through a two-part approach.
"This is the most comprehensive program in the world," Prof. Giles says.
"Many countries offer either a vaccine or antibodies - but not both, and not with the same level of public funding and coordination."
At the heart of the rollout is the RSV vaccine for pregnant women, offered between 28 and 36 weeks' gestation.
By vaccinating mothers, protective antibodies are passed through the placenta to the baby. This arms newborns with immediate immunity during their most vulnerable months.
"Ideally, we would like two weeks between vaccination and delivery. This gives the antibodies time to build up and cross the placenta," says Prof. Giles.
"But even women close to delivery shouldn't be turned away ... some protection is still better than none."
Safe, effective and simple
Approved in Australia in March 2025 the vaccine has been through tough global trials with more than 7,000 women and their babies. The results were compelling: 82 per cent protection against severe RSV in the first three months of life, with sustained benefit up to six months.
The trial confirmed that the vaccine is safe for both mother and baby. There's no higher risk of premature birth or low birth weight.
With RSV season peaking in winter, health experts are urging all pregnant people to speak with their care providers about the vaccine and not to leave it too late.
As Teal puts it: "It was one small step during pregnancy, but a huge weight off our shoulders. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
Learn more about the RSV immunisation program here: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) | Better Health Channel