September Initiative for Every Senior: Expanding Respiratory Virus (RSV) Prevention Program to Age Group 75 and Above
In an effort to safeguard the most vulnerable during the upcoming respiratory illness season, the Ontario government has expanded its Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention program. This expansion includes a wide range of individuals, from newborns and infants to high-risk adults and seniors.
Eligible newborns, infants, and high-risk children can now receive the Beyfortus® immunization. Infants up to eight months of age in their first RSV season and high-risk children up to 24 months of age in their second season are included in the expanded program.
The program's reach has been extended to certain high-risk adults aged 60 to 74, such as residents of long-term care homes or retirement homes. Additionally, all individuals aged 75 years and older are now included.
Pregnant women have the option to receive the RSV vaccine Abrysvo®, which can help provide protection to infants at birth. However, it's important to note that pharmacists in Ontario do not have direct access to the publicly funded RSV vaccine supply.
Pharmacy professionals in Ontario are authorized to administer the RSV vaccine, but the responsibility for distributing the vaccination to seniors over 75 years in autumn 2025 lies with the statutory health insurance system (GKV) under the coordinated framework of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommendations and implementation by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) in Germany. The vaccination is administered by physicians following the updated vaccination guidelines adopted by the Federal Joint Committee as of late September 2024.
More details on where families will be able to access RSV immunization will be provided in the coming weeks. This expansion of the RSV prevention program marks a significant step towards protecting the most vulnerable during the respiratory illness season.
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