Almost RSV season: Physicians push B.C. and Alta. to join other jurisdictions and offer universal prenatal and infant RSV immunization

The Federation of Medical Women of Canada is urging B.C. and Alberta to offer a universal immunization program to protect infants against RSV. All other provinces and territories offer universal programs.The FMWC Infant RSV Task Force produced a position statement “Why Universal RSV Protection is the Right Investment for British Columbia and Alberta,” in May 2026. In June, Dr. Shelley Ross, a family physician in Burnaby, B.C., past-president of Doctors BC and co-chair of the FMWC’s Infant RSV task force, spoke to the B.C. select standing committee on finance and government services to promote a universal program to prevent RSV in infants. “We really want them to get on board before this 2026-2027 season gets us again,” Dr. Ross told the CBC in June “Every infant deserves to be protected.”Health Canada approved a maternal RSV vaccine (RSVpreF), marketed as ABRYSVO, and the long-acting infant monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus) in 2023. A long-acting recombinant human monoclonal antibody, clesrovimab (ENFLONSIA) was approved by Health Canada in February 2026 for infants in their first RSV season. The short-acting monoclonal antibody palivizumab (SYNAGIS) is also available.The maternal RSV immunization is available in both provinces but parents must pay out-of-pocket. Both provinces cover a risk-based approach, were infants at high risk of poor outcomes from RSV receive monoclonal antibodies. The FMWC notes this does not take into account that many healthy full-term infants get RSV and experience serious outcomes. In April 2026, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommended that provinces and territories implement a seasonal RSV immunization program that included either:Offering monoclonal antibodies to all infants in their first season orOffering RSVpreF to protect infants born in RSV season and offering a monoclonal antibody to infants at risk of severe RSV disease or who are born to people who did not receive the RSVpreF vaccine in pregnancyThe Alberta Medical Association section of pediatrics sent a letter to Adriana LaGrange, the minster of primary and preventative health services in April 2026 advocating for universal coverage of RSV immunization to protect infants. “It is often assumed that severe RSV is concentrated among premature or medically vulnerable infants. In fact, most infants with severe RSV are previously healthy and full-term,” the letter reads. The group also released an infographic about RSV in infants and its impact on the Alberta healthcare system.The push for B.C. and Alberta to adopt a universal program is timely, as RSV season typically starts in late August or early September. NACI recommends that RSVpreF is delivered at 28 to 36 weeks’ gestation, so people expecting infants in September could get immunized now. NACI’s recommendation includes off-label use based on safety data, since Health Canada approved RSVpreF for 32 to 26 weeks’ gestation.The FMWC position statement notes that both provinces have done cost-effectiveness modelling, but says there are critical gaps in the provinces’ policy analyses. It says the B.C. analysis is based on cost for acute care of an infant with RSV but does not factor in broader system costs, societal costs or recurrent respiratory illnesses in future years. One cost not included in policy analysis is transporting a sick infant to an appropriate healthcare centre, something particularly relevant in both B.C. and Alberta, FMWC notes.New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador recently became the latest provinces to adopt universal coverage of RSV immunizations to protect infants.

Almost RSV season: Physicians push B.C. and Alta. to join other jurisdictions and offer universal prenatal and infant RSV immunization

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