Cases of respiratory syncytial virus have surged past both influenza and Covid-19 in Australia this winter, leaving elderly Australians particularly vulnerable.

According to the Immunisation Foundation of Australia’s Mid-Winter report card, more than 83,000 Aussies have contracted the highly contagious RSV so far this year compared with just over 51,000 Covid cases and 49,000 flu diagnoses.

It is the first time RSV has dominated mid-year infectious respiratory disease notifications since becoming nationally reportable in 2021.

The IFA report showed that, while 1.76 million older Australians (aged 75-plus and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60-plus) had received the flu vaccine this year, less than half that number (722,530) in the same age group had taken up their free RSV jab.

Australians outside those groups can also have the RSV vaccine, but have to pay about $300 for it.

With roughly 890 cases of RSV confirmed each day since the start of winter, Australia is on track to record more than 127,000 cases by the end of the season.

IFA founder and executive director Catherine Hughes urged more older adults to get vaccinated.

“The fact that more than 700,000 vulnerable older Australians received the RSV vaccine in the first two months of the vaccination program is an outstanding effort by the community and immunisation providers,” said Hughes.

“However, there is still a massive gap in RSV vaccination coverage and an urgent need for older adults to roll up their sleeves.”

An IFA survey of 1000 older Australians found almost two-thirds were unaware that RSV and flu vaccines can be given together.

“The RSV and influenza vaccines can absolutely be given at the same time, providing a convenient way to maximise protection during winter,” Hughes said.

While most healthy adults and older children experience mild, cold-like symptoms with RSV, children under two and the elderly are at greater risk of more serious infection.

It is a leading cause of hospitalisation in babies and older adults and the infection of the lower airways and can lead to more severe respiratory illness such as pneumonia.

GP and Immunisation Coalition Chair Dr Rodney Pearce told newsGP the soaring cases of RSV could also be chalked up to lack of awareness of the virus in the community, combined with people outside of the free vaccine eligibility being reluctant to pay for it.

“People still ask, ‘I didn’t know about this (RSV) 10 years ago, where did it come from?’,” Dr Pearce said.

“[When] we can’t treat RSV because we don’t have any antivirals for it, we don’t talk about it … but when we have an intervention [the vaccine], we can talk about this now, we can monitor it.

“We’ve been trying to get this vaccine for 20 years and now we’ve got one safe enough to use during pregnancy, safe enough to give kids … but people don’t want to commit to paying for it.”

The RSV vaccine has been shown to be more than 85 per cent in keeping older adults with the virus out of hospital. It can also reduce hospital admissions for conditions such as lung and heart disease that may be aggravated by the virus by around 80 per cent.

A German study published this week highlighted the danger of respiratory viruses such as RSV for cardiac health.

Researchers from Germany’s Max Planck Institute found a direct correlation between respiratory infection surges and spikes in cardiovascular deaths and concluded that respiratory illnesses are key drivers of the timing of heart-related fatalities, underscoring the urgent need for older demographics to maintain robust vaccination coverage.

Australian Medical Association President Dr Danielle McMullen said those yet to receive the vaccine should do so as soon as possible.

“Now is the time to act – winter is far from over,” McMullen said.

“Getting protected against RSV is an incredibly simple yet effective way to help prevent serious illness and stay out of hospital.”

In contrast to the slow uptake among seniors, Hughes noted that the national RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program had been highly effective. Paediatric hospital admissions for the virus this year have dropped by 70 per cent compared to 2024, prior to the program’s rollout.

“Since the nationwide program began last year, more than 360,000 Australian babies have been protected against severe RSV,” Hughes said.

“Early evidence shows the program is a resounding success. Thousands of families are being spared the trauma of their baby being admitted to hospital and requiring oxygen support or intensive care due to RSV.”

Free RSV immunisations are available nationwide for high-risk groups, including infants, pregnant women, seniors aged 75 and over, and Indigenous Australians aged 60 and over.