Pregnant women between 29 and 36 weeks can now obtain free vaccinations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a measure designed to reduce hospital admissions for newborns and alleviate financial burdens on families. Caitlyn Dyer, whose eight-month-old son Hector was hospitalised for six days with RSV, underscores the importance of this initiative. Hector required both an oxygen and feeding tube during his hospital stay. Dyer expressed that having access to the vaccine during her pregnancy could have potentially spared her family from this painful experience, highlighting that it was not available at the time she was expecting. Previously, expectant mothers faced costs of up to $300 for the immunisation. The launch of this vaccination program is expected to significantly decrease the number of hospitalised infants due to RSV, with projections indicating a drop of up to 70%. This initiative not only aims to safeguard newborns’ health but also offers financial relief to families, representing a substantial step forward in maternal and child health care.
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