Flu vaccine expansion welcome, but RSV protection still missing
More Kiwi kids will be protected from flu, but babies remain vulnerable to RSV. The Foundation is calling for urgent action to fund a medicine that could help keep babies out of hospital.
The Cardiac and Respiratory Foundation NZ welcomes the decision to provide free flu vaccines to more Kiwi kids, but says the announcement highlights the gaping hole in funding protection against RSV.
Foundation Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says the decision to expand flu vaccine eligibility to all children aged six months to five years from next year shows that Pharmac recognises the importance of preventing serious illness in young children.
“We welcome this announcement, but we need to see the same urgency applied to RSV.
“Protecting children from one serious respiratory virus while leaving them exposed to another simply doesn’t make sense,” she says.
“New Zealand families shouldn’t have to keep waiting for access to a medicine that could help keep their babies out of hospital.”
The announcement comes as New Zealand battles its biggest flu outbreak in a decade, closely followed by a surge in RSV cases, placing significant pressure on children, families and the health system.
Nirsevimab, a medicine that helps prevent severe RSV illness, has been approved by Medsafe and is now with Pharmac for funding consideration.
“The frustrating thing is that we have an effective way to help prevent severe RSV illness, but families still can’t access it through the public health system,” Ms Harding says.
“Pharmac needs to fund it, so New Zealand families can access this protection before another RSV season takes its toll.”
Respiratory paediatrician Dr David McNamara, who is also a member of the Foundation's Respiratory Advisory Board, says Pharmac’s decision is welcome news given the current state of the hospital system.
“Hospitals are overwhelmed with influenza at the moment, and that has had a follow-on affect with cancellations of surgeries and other planned treatments for children.
“The expansion of availability for the flu vaccine will hopefully reduce the impact of the outbreak next year.”
However, he urged Pharmac to also fund protection for RSV, Dr McNamara says.
“Australia and the UK have seen dramatic reductions in hospital admissions with the RSV vaccine and it high time that NZ approves funding for this as well.”
The Foundation is calling on Pharmac to prioritise funding for nirsevimab, ensuring babies have access to protection against severe RSV alongside the expanded flu vaccine programme.