Free RSV vaccine in pregnancy at a pharmacy

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of serious chest infections in babies, and the youngest are most at risk. Since 3 February 2025, a vaccine given during pregnancy has been free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). It passes protection to your baby before birth, and many community pharmacies can give it.

This guide covers who can get the free vaccine, when to have it, how it fits alongside your other pregnancy vaccines, and what to ask your pharmacy.

Who gets it free, and when

The maternal RSV vaccine is free for pregnant women from 28 weeks of pregnancy. You need a Medicare card, or to be eligible for one.

A few details are worth knowing:

Timing: the recommended window is 28 to 36 weeks. If you miss it, the Australian Immunisation Handbook says to have it as soon as possible after 36 weeks rather than skip it.
Every pregnancy: since February 2026, the advice is one dose in each pregnancy, including pregnancies close together.
All year: it is recommended whatever time of year your baby is due, not only before winter.
Before birth: your baby needs the vaccine to have been given at least two weeks before birth to get the full benefit.

The vaccine is not recommended after the birth, including for women who are breastfeeding, and is not free then.

How much protection it gives

Antibodies you make after the vaccine cross the placenta to your baby. According to the Department of Health, this cuts the risk of severe RSV illness in babies by about 70%, with protection lasting up to six months.

Common side effects are pain or redness where the needle went in, tiredness, headache and aching muscles. They are usually mild and pass in a day or two. In clinical trials there was no difference in serious events for mothers or babies, and safety is being monitored. The Department of Health’s RSV page links to the full consumer medicine information.

If you are not vaccinated: protection for your baby

Babies whose mothers were not vaccinated, or were vaccinated less than two weeks before birth, can instead get an RSV antibody injection (nirsevimab) after birth. This is funded by each state and territory, usually given in hospital or by your local immunisation provider, not at a pharmacy. Some states offer it all year; others only during the RSV season.

Babies generally do not need both. If you were vaccinated at the right time and your baby has no medical risk conditions, the antibody injection is not recommended in their first six months.

Fitting it in with your other pregnancy vaccines

Three other vaccines come up during pregnancy:

Vaccine	When
Whooping cough (dTpa)	Each pregnancy, ideally 20 to 32 weeks
Flu	Any stage of pregnancy
COVID-19	Not routinely recommended; can be considered from 20 weeks

The RSV vaccine can be given at the same visit as the whooping cough, flu or COVID-19 vaccines, or at a separate visit. No gap between them is required. Some providers suggest separate visits to keep side effects down, but that should not delay either vaccine.

Getting it at a pharmacy

According to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, pharmacists can give the RSV vaccine to pregnant women without a prescription in every state and territory. Not every pharmacy stocks it, so phone ahead to check that a trained pharmacist is on and the vaccine is in stock.

Pharmacies in the national pharmacy vaccination program cannot charge you a fee for a free NIP vaccine. Pharmacies outside the program may charge an administration fee, though not for the vaccine itself. Ask when you book. The dose is recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register, so your GP, midwife or obstetrician can see it.

What about partners and grandparents?

Partners and other family members are not recommended an RSV vaccine to protect a newborn, because there is no evidence yet that it reduces the spread to babies.

Separately, since 15 May 2026, an RSV vaccine for older adults has been free for people aged 75 and over and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 and over, to protect their own health. Other adults aged 60 to 74 can buy it privately; the government says it would typically cost about $300.

Practical Example: At her 28-week check, a first-time mum in Perth is reminded about the RSV and whooping cough vaccines. She has a Saturday shift free, so she uses search for pharmacies to find one nearby offering RSV vaccination and whooping cough vaccination, and phones to check they have both in stock. The pharmacist gives both vaccines at the same visit, one in each arm, at no cost, and the doses appear on her immunisation record before her next antenatal appointment.

Finding a pharmacy

Search by suburb or browse by state, such as pharmacies in WA or pharmacies in Victoria, and look for RSV vaccination. Many pharmacies also give flu vaccines. For an overview of everything pharmacies can vaccinate for, see our guide to pharmacy vaccination services.

Official sources to check

Talk to your midwife, GP or obstetrician if you have questions about your own pregnancy. The vaccine is free from 28 weeks, takes one short visit, and protects your baby through the months when RSV hits hardest.