RSV Protection for Eligible Groups - 2026/2027

To learn more about RSV the disease, visit:

• Ontario Ministry of Health Respiratory Syncytial Virus webpage (French)

For more information on the RSV prevention program, please see below:

Infant, high-risk children and pregnant people

There are two products available to help protect infants and high-risk children against RSV:

• a monoclonal antibody (Beyfortus®) provided just prior to and during the active RSV season to infants and high-risk children who meet the ministry’s eligibility criteria
• a vaccine (Abrysvo™) available to women who are 32 to 36 weeks pregnant and who will deliver near the start of, or during, the RSV season

Protection for older adults - eligibility

Some highlights:

• Year Round: The RSV vaccine is now available year round, but it can be given during fall respiratory vaccine season with flu, COVID-19 and pneumococcal (if eligible; see TBDHU.com/pneumo).
• Single Dose: The RSV vaccine has shown over time that the dose gives multi-year protection and so it is only authorized as a single dose (i.e., no boosters). 
• Administer outside RSV season: Due to the multi-year protection, the vaccine can be administered outside the RSV season. 

Who is eligible

• Individuals aged 75 and older
•  Individuals aged 60–74 who are also: 
  
  • Residents of a long-term care home, Elder Care Lodge, or retirement home 
    including similar settings e.g., co-located facilities
  • Recipients of a hematopoietic stem cell transplant within the past two years or with 
    ongoing immunosuppression
  • Individuals on home oxygen or requiring chronic oxygen therapy, regardless of 
    residence
  • Patients in hospital receiving alternate level of care (ALC) including similar settings 
    (e.g., complex continuing care, hospital transitional programs) 
  • Patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) who is moderately to severely 
    immunocompromised 
  • Patients receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis 
  • Recipients of solid organ transplants 
  • Individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Individuals who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis (FNIM)

How to get protected if eligible

 

RSV vaccine for pay; those who are 60 to 74 years

• Not eligible for publicly funded: People who are not eligible for the publicly funded vaccines (as listed above) and are at least 60 years old can order the RSV vaccine and pay out of pocket with a prescription from their health care provider, even if they don’t belong to any of the priority groups listed above.
• Private insurance: The Ontario Ministry of Health does not reimburse but some private insurers may cover all or part of the cost of the vaccine.
• TBDHU will not administer: This vaccine CANNOT be brought to TBDHU to receive.
• Pharmacist may be able to give: Your pharmacist may be able to administer it. Confirm with your pharmacy if they can administer the RSV vaccine to you.
• Prescribing health care provider: If the pharmacist is not able to adminster, book a follow up appointment with the health care provider who prescribed the vaccine.

This page provids basic information only. It must not take the place of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to a health care professional about any health concerns.

For Further Information

Call (807) 625-5900 or toll-free 1-888-294-6630 to speak with a nurse about the vaccine options OR ask for an infectious disease nurse if you have questions about an RSV infection.