Older adults can get vaccine year-round
Ottawa Public Health has shared details of Ontario's Respiratory Syncytial Virus prevention programs for the 2026-2027 season, covering older adults, infants, high-risk children and pregnant people. The Older Adult RSV Vaccine Prevention Program runs year-round, according to a memo from Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health, sent to Ottawa physicians and nurse practitioners on October 1, 2026. Eligible older adults can receive a single dose at any time during the year, and booster doses are not currently recommended for people who have already been vaccinated. The high-risk older adult program is open to Ontario residents, who can get the publicly funded vaccine through their primary care provider or in the setting in which they qualify. The vaccine will not be offered through pharmacies. According to the memo, Ottawa Public Health plans to run select clinics to help residents who face barriers to access, with more details to come on its website. Two vaccines, Arexvy and Abrysvo, are approved by Health Canada to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in people 60 and older. The RSV vaccine can be given at the same time as other routine and seasonal immunizations for older adults. Providers may receive either product depending on supply. **Immunization for infants and children began October 1** The Infant and High-risk Children RSV Prevention Program also started October 1, 2026. It offers publicly funded doses of Beyfortus (nirsevimab), a monoclonal antibody, to eligible infants and high-risk children. According to the memo, eligibility includes Ontario residents with chronic lung disease, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia defined by the need for ongoing respiratory support or supplemental oxygen therapy; hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease requiring corrective surgery, cardiac medication for congestive heart failure, or moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension; cystic fibrosis with recurrent pulmonary exacerbations requiring hospitalization, deteriorating pulmonary function or severe growth delay; neuromuscular disease impairing the clearing of respiratory secretions; and severe congenital airway anomalies impairing the clearing of respiratory secretions. **Pregnant people offered vaccine to protect infants** The program also includes vaccination for pregnant people using Abrysvo, which passes maternal antibodies to the infant and can help protect against RSV in the first months of life. The vaccine is approved only for people 18 and older and must not be given to infants. The memo urges providers to take extra care in separating products to avoid medication errors. Eligibility covers pregnant Ontario residents at 28 to 36 weeks of gestation who will deliver during RSV season, following a discussion with a health care provider. While Health Canada authorizes the product for use between 32 and 36 weeks, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends it may be administered from 28 to 36 weeks, based on available safety and efficacy data. Administration before 32 weeks is considered off-label and subject to clinical judgment, according to the memo. Healthcare providers can order RSV vaccines and the monoclonal antibody at any time through the Ottawa Public Health Vaccine Distribution Centre's online order form. Any non-expired product left over from the 2025-2026 season should be used first. Program information is posted on the Ontario Ministry of Health's website, with 2026-2027 season details to be added shortly, according to a memo from Ottawa Public Health. Ottawa Public Health notes it has recently moved to a refreshed website, so some links and documents may be temporarily unavailable while the transition is completed.
