RSV Immunization
What is RSV?
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common virus that can cause lung infections. It often looks like a cold, with mild symptoms like a runny nose, cough, or fever. RSV spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, or by touching things that have the virus on them. It can enter your body through your eyes, nose, or mouth. Most children get RSV before they turn two years old.
Why Is RSV a Concern?
For most kids, RSV causes only mild illness. But for young babies, it can lead to serious problems like bronchiolitis or pneumonia, even if they are healthy. These can make it hard to breathe and may require hospital care, sometimes even in the ICU.
How Can We Protect Babies?
Experts recommend that all babies born in Ontario during RSV season get a medicine called Beyfortus (nirsevimab). It’s a long-acting antibody that helps protect against RSV. One dose can lower the chance of going to the hospital by almost 90%! It protects babies through the whole RSV season and is usually given in the hospital between October and March. Your team at the hospital will offer baby this medication prior to leaving hospital.
Another option is a vaccine called Abrysvo (RSVPreF), which is given to pregnant people between 32 and 36 weeks. This helps protect the baby after birth. However, this option is only recommended if parents choose not to give Beyfortus to their baby.
The Ontario Ministry of Health pays for either the baby’s antibody (Beyfortus) or the pregnancy vaccine (Abrysvo) – but not both, unless the baby is born less than 2 weeks after the vaccine or is at very high risk.
What the Data Shows
In past years, young children (ages 0–4) and older adults (65+) were hospitalized for RSV at similar rates. But in the 2024/25 season, something changed.
For the first time, young children were hospitalized much less than older adults. This drop started after Ontario introduced Beyfortus® (nirsevimab) for infants in November 2024.
This suggests that Beyfortus is working — helping protect babies from getting seriously sick with RSV.
Decided To Get Beyfortus After Leaving the Hospital?
No problem! Trillium Health Partners (THP) has teamed up with the Summerville Family Health Team to offer Beyfortus® to newborns who didn’t get it in the hospital.
How to make an appointment:
Call: (905) 272-9900 ext 240
Online: www.summervillefht.com – Click on the Paediatric tab, and follow the Medeo link to book an appointment in the Vaccine Clinic for RSV Injection. You can access the page directly here: Paediatric Care Clinic.
Resources
- THP Website on RSV
- Protecting Your Child from RSV (PCMCH fact sheet for parents and expectant parents).
- Our Kids Health RSV (resources available in multiple languages)
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