+ 8 more offer it outside the routine schedule
What the RSV protection for babies protects against
Not a traditional childhood vaccine: either a single long-acting antibody injection (nirsevimab) given to babies, or a vaccine given to the mother in pregnancy, to protect against respiratory syncytial virus.
Also known as: Beyfortus, Abrysvo
Why children are given it
RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and infant hospital admission in the first year of life. Protection is newly available and being added to schedules in the UK, US and elsewhere.
From each country's official schedule, checked against its sources (last full check 2026-09-16). Tap a country for its whole schedule and a personalised timeline.
| Country | Routine doses |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: RSV vaccine (in pregnancy) - From 28 weeks of pregnancy. Not a baby vaccine - given to the mother. Protection passes to the baby before birth, cutting the risk of severe RSV in the first 6 months of life. |
| 🇺🇸 United States | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) protection - Birth season / first RSV season. Infants whose mother did not receive an RSV vaccine in pregnancy may be offered the nirsevimab monoclonal antibody to protect against severe RSV bronchiolitis. |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: RSV antibody (nirsevimab) - Before or during the baby's first RSV season. NACI recommends offering it to all infants in their first RSV season, starting with babies at higher risk. Each province and territory decides its own programme and eligibility, so ask your local public health unit. |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: RSV protection (pregnancy vaccine or infant antibody) - Pregnancy vaccine (Abrysvo) at 28 to 36 weeks, free on the National Immunisation Program; or the nirsevimab antibody injection for the baby through state and territory programmes. All pregnant women can have the free pregnancy vaccine. Nirsevimab is offered to babies whose mothers did not have it (or had it less than 2 weeks before birth) and to babies at higher risk - eligibility differs by state and territory. |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇮🇳 India | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: RSV antibody (nirsevimab) - Before the first RSV season: in autumn (September to November) for babies born April to September, or as soon as possible after birth for babies born October to March. All newborns and babies in their first RSV season (STIKO recommendation, July 2024). It can be given at the same visit as other baby vaccines. |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: RSV protection (nirsevimab) - Babies born September-February (RSV season), given in the maternity hospital soon after birth. A single antibody injection (not a vaccine) protecting against severe RSV bronchiolitis for about 150 days, covering the highest-risk early months. Free HSE programme. |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇫🇷 France | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: RSV protection - nirsevimab (Beyfortus) or pregnancy vaccine - Autumn campaign from 1 September: the antibody at the maternity unit for babies born during the season, with catch-up for babies born from February; or the mother's vaccine (Abrysvo) at 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. All newborns and babies in their first RSV season. Parents choose one of the two strategies - not both. |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: RSV protection (nirsevimab) - First RSV season (autumn/winter). A single antibody injection offered to babies to protect against severe RSV bronchiolitis, the leading cause of infant hospital admission in the first year. |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Not on the routine schedule |
Good to know
- RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis, a chest infection that is a leading reason babies are admitted to hospital in their first winter.
- Countries protect babies in one of two ways: a vaccine in pregnancy, so antibodies pass to the baby, or a single long-acting antibody injection for the baby.
- This is one of the newest additions to childhood programmes, and it is often timed to the RSV season.
Side effects: what is normal
- The baby antibody injection (nirsevimab) can cause a little redness or swelling where it was given, and occasionally a mild rash or fever.
- The pregnancy vaccine can cause a sore arm, tiredness or headache for the mother.
Most side effects are mild and pass within a day or two. Get medical advice straight away if your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a fit, a temperature of 38°C or more in a baby under 3 months, or you are worried in any way. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist can advise on your own child.
It is not on the routine schedule of any country here, but United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Ireland, France and Netherlands offer it - usually timed to the season or to the baby's birth. The table above shows when and who for in each country.
It is not part of the routine childhood schedules covered here.
It is routine in 0 of the 14 countries on this site. United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Ireland, France and Netherlands offer it to particular groups of children (for example by season, health condition or risk). We do not currently list it on the childhood schedule for South Africa, India, Russia, New Zealand, Brazil and Singapore - some countries run separate regional, seasonal or risk-group programmes, so ask your local clinic.
Yes. Vaccines on the childhood schedule are given by age, not by sex - girls and boys receive the same doses at the same ages.
It is almost never too late to catch up, and a missed dose rarely means starting again - your doctor or nurse will continue from where your child left off. A few vaccines (such as rotavirus) have upper age limits. Contact your clinic to book a catch-up appointment.
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Australia - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- South Africa - National Department of Health - Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- Russia - Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation - National Preventive Vaccination Calendar
- Germany - Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute / ECDC
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- New Zealand - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora / Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
- France - Ministere de la Sante / Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) - calendrier vaccinal
- Netherlands - RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma)
- Brazil - Ministerio da Saude - Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes (PNI)
- Singapore - Ministry of Health (MOH) / Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) - National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS)
- NHS - RSV protection for babies (side effects and more)
- NHS - NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- CDC - Possible side effects from vaccines
- WHO - Vaccines and immunization
How we research and check this information: our editorial policy.
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