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Increasing RSV deaths in older West Australians sparks calls for free vaccination rollout

Claire SadlerThe West Australian

A fourfold increase in respiratory syncytial virus deaths among older West Australians has been blamed on the prohibitive $350 cost of the life-saving vaccine for over 60s.

The highly infectious disease has caused four deaths in WA between March and June with all of those being over the age of 70 compared to only one fatality for the same period in 2023, prompting calls for the State and Federal Government to expand its free immunisation program.

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