RSV becomes Australia’s most notified respiratory virus in 2026

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has become Australia’s most frequently reported respiratory virus this year, surpassing both influenza and COVID-19 for the first time since national mid-year respiratory disease reporting began in 2021.

According to the Immunisation Foundation of Australia’s (IFA) 2026 Mid-Winter Report Card, more than 83,000 RSV cases have been notified nationally during the first half of 2026, accounting for 45% of notifications across the three major respiratory viruses. This represents a 25% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Children under five years of age continue to be disproportionately affected, accounting for almost half of all confirmed RSV cases. The IFA estimates that more than 127,000 RSV cases could be recorded by the end of the 2026 winter season.

Despite the increasing disease burden, RSV vaccination uptake among older Australians remains lower than influenza vaccination coverage. The report highlights that more than 720,000 people aged 75 years and over have received the free RSV vaccine under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), compared with approximately 1.76 million who have received an influenza vaccine. The report also suggests that limited awareness of RSV and uncertainty around vaccine eligibility may be contributing to lower uptake.

Current NIP-funded RSV vaccination is available for:

• pregnant women at 28–36 weeks’ gestation
• adults aged 75 years and over
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 years and over
• people aged 60 years and over with eligible medical risk factors for severe RSV disease
• eligible infants and certain at-risk infants and children through jurisdictional programs.

The report also highlights the ongoing success of Australia’s infant RSV immunisation program. More than 360,000 babies have been protected since the national program commenced in early 2025, with early evidence showing RSV-related hospital admissions among newborns have almost halved following the program’s introduction.

The findings reinforce the growing impact of RSV as a significant cause of respiratory illness in Australia and highlight the important role of healthcare professionals in improving awareness of RSV disease and promoting vaccination among eligible populations.

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Read the full newsGP article: “RSV tops most notified respiratory virus”: https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/rsv-tops-most-notified-respiratory-virus