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Protecting young lungs: RSV prevention in infants

A/Prof Daryl Cheng

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A/Prof Daryl Cheng

Consultant Paediatrician; Medical Executive Leader; Clinical Informatician, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne; Head, Paediatrics, Cabrini Health; Chief Medical Officer, Magentus

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0.5 minutes

These are activities that expand general practice knowledge, skills and attitudes, related to your scope of practice.

RP
0.5 minutes

These are activities that require reflection on feedback about your work.

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1 minutes

These are activities that use your work data to ensure quality results.

A/Prof Daryl Cheng
A/Prof Daryl Cheng

While respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) occurs across all age groups, it disproportionately affects young children, particularly infants in the first year of life – and especially those aged under six months. RSV prevention during early infancy is therefore a major public health priority.

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References

  1. Nair H, et al. Lancet 2010;375:1545–55
  2. Shi T, et al. Lancet 2017;390:946–58
  3. Piedimonte G, et al. Pediatr Rev 2014;35:519–30
  4. Johnson EK, et al. Popul Health Metr 2021;19:31
  5. Evohealth 2023. https://www.evohealth.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Time-to-Act-protecting-our-children-from-RSV-.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2026.
  6. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia 2026. https://ncirs.org.au/maternal-rsv-vaccine-uptake-data/all-females-abrysvo-uptake-age-group. Accessed July 10, 2026.
  7. RESP-NET. Data last updated May 28, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/resp-net/dashboard/.
  8. Patton ME, et al. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2025;74:273–81
  9. Zambrano LD, et al. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2025;74:580–88
  10. Pérez Marc G, et al. Lancet Infect Dis 2025;25:1044–54
  11. Razzini JL, et al. Lancet Reg Health Am 2025:52:101296
  12. McLachlan I, et al. Lancet Infect Dis 2026;26:362-73
  13. Razzini JL, et al. Lancet Infect Dis 2026;26:522–34
  14. Attaianese F, et al. J Infect 2025;91:106600
  15. Wadia U, et al. J Infect 2025;90:106466
  16. Australian Immunisation Handbook. https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/vaccine-preventable-diseases/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv#recommendations. Accessed July 6, 2026.
  17. Bertin B, et al. Therapie 2023;78:279-92
  18. Harris E. JAMA 2024;331:1439
  19. Therapeutic Goods Administration. https://www.tga.gov.au/news/safety-updates/correct-administration-rsv-vaccine-and-antibody-products. Accessed July 7, 2026.
  20. AusVaxSafety 2025. https://ausvaxsafety.org.au/new-ausvaxsafety-data-confirms-abrysvo-rsv-vaccine-well-tolerated-during-pregnancy-adverse-events. Accessed July 7, 2026.
  21. AusVaxSafety 2026. https://ausvaxsafety.org.au/national-immunisation-program-schedule-vaccines/pregnant-people-rsv-schedule-point. Accessed July 7, 2026.
  22. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia 2026. https://ncirs.org.au/vaccine-recommendations-pregnant-women-guide-health-professionals. Accessed July 7, 2026.
  23. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia 2026. https://ncirs.org.au/respiratory-syntactical-virus-rsv-immunisation/state-and-territory-nirsevimab-beyfortus-infant. Accessed July 7, 2026.
  24. Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre. https://mvec.mcri.edu.au/references/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/. Accessed July 6, 2026.
  25. Immunisation Foundation of Australia. https://www.ifa.org.au/uniteagainstrsv. Accessed July 7, 2026.

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A/Prof Daryl Cheng

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A/Prof Daryl Cheng

Consultant Paediatrician; Medical Executive Leader; Clinical Informatician, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne; Head, Paediatrics, Cabrini Health; Chief Medical Officer, Magentus

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