New research suggests many older Australians recognise RSV can be serious but don’t believe it will happen to them

Australian actor Georgie Parker admits she didn’t fully appreciate how respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could affect older adults until she entered her 60s.

The Home and Away star and Aussie TV personality says learning more about the virus changed the way she thinks about healthy ageing — a view that mirrors new Australian research suggesting many older people recognise RSV can be serious but don’t consider themselves personally at risk.

A nationally representative survey of Australians aged 65 and over, commissioned by GSK Australia, found that while 90 per cent of people who were aware of RSV considered it a serious illness, fewer than two in five (38 per cent) were very or extremely concerned about becoming seriously ill themselves. Only five per cent correctly identified all seven facts about the virus included in the survey.

Awareness gap

RSV is a common respiratory virus that often causes cold-like symptoms, but for older adults and people living with certain chronic health conditions it can lead to pneumonia, hospitalisation and, in some cases, life-threatening complications.

The findings come as RSV continues circulating across Australia this winter. More than 71,500 cases have been reported nationally so far this year, with adults aged 65 and over accounting for almost one in five notifications.

Infectious diseases physician Professor Paul Griffin said the research highlighted a disconnect between recognising RSV as a serious illness and believing it could affect you personally.

“We often see people acknowledge a health risk in theory while assuming serious illness is more likely to affect somebody else,” Professor Griffin said.

“As we age, our immune systems naturally become less effective at responding to infections and risk tends to increase gradually over time. This doesn’t mean people should be alarmed, but it does highlight the importance of understanding your personal risk and seeking information from trusted healthcare professionals.”

‘I thought it was just a cold’

For Central Coast resident Sheryl Court, RSV was something she had never even heard of until it landed her in hospital.

“When I first became unwell in March 2023, I thought I was just coming down with a cold. But when I started struggling to breathe, I knew something was seriously wrong. I called an ambulance for the first time in my life and was admitted to hospital where they diagnosed me with RSV.”

The 67-year-old spent four days in hospital receiving oxygen and respiratory support before returning home, but says recovery took much longer than she expected.

“After spending four days in hospital, the recovery was much slower than I expected, and it took a long time before I started to feel like myself again. The experience really shook me and has made me much more cautious whenever I begin to feel unwell.”

Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Sheryl says she had no idea her age and existing health condition increased her risk.

“I’d never heard of RSV before, and even though I live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, I had no idea that the risk of becoming seriously unwell can increase with age and certain chronic health conditions.”

Don’t ignore worsening symptoms

The survey also found many older Australians continue to take a wait-and-see approach when respiratory symptoms develop, with almost nine in 10 saying they either self-manage symptoms or delay seeking medical advice because they expect they will recover on their own.

Health experts say people experiencing respiratory symptoms should monitor how they are feeling, seek medical advice if symptoms worsen or breathing becomes difficult, and continue practising good hygiene, including regular handwashing and staying home when unwell, to help reduce the spread of RSV and other respiratory viruses.