As respiratory infection season approaches, Quebec announced Friday that it will soon provide the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine free of charge to people aged 60 and over living in long-term care centres (CHSLDs) and intermediate resources. Quebecers aged 75 and over who live in private seniors’ residences will also be able to benefit from it.
This is a decision that stems from the recommendations of the Quebec Immunization Committee, stressed in a press release the office of Health Minister Christian Dubé. This vaccine, like the ones against influenza and COVID-19, will be administered this fall to seniors in residences by mobile teams from health establishments. The start date of the vaccination campaign remains to be determined.
Highly contagious, RSV typically appears during the fall season and circulates until spring. Its symptoms, which are similar to those of the flu or a cold, can include runny nose, congestion, cough and sore throat.
In some cases, the virus can cause a serious respiratory infection requiring hospitalization. Older adults and infants are more likely to develop complications.
Among seniors, influenza and COVID-19 remain the two respiratory viruses that cause the most complications, but they are followed by RSV, explains Dr.D Caroline Quach-Thanh, pediatrician-microbiologist-infectious disease specialist at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center. In this context, offering the vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus to at-risk populations becomes “very interesting” to prevent hospitalizations or even deaths, she adds.
Studies are currently being conducted on the duration of protection provided by the RSV vaccine, says the woman who is also chair of the Quebec Immunization Committee. “For now, we are at two years of protection, but maybe we will get to three, four or five. This is something we are currently monitoring,” says Dr.D Quach-Thanh.
Those who are not part of the groups designated by Quebec to obtain the RSV vaccine free of charge will still be able to protect themselves, but they will have to pay to do so. They will then be able to get immunized at pharmacies or local service points.
Protect newborns too
As for babies under six months old, Quebec reminded that starting this fall, they will be able to receive nirsevimab, a treatment that prevents complications related to RSV. It was approved in April 2023 by Health Canada. “It’s not a vaccine. We give the child antibodies, so they don’t need to develop any,” explains Dr.D Caroline Quach-Thanh.
The pediatrician-microbiologist-infectious disease specialist is hopeful that the new injection program for this drug will have a positive effect. on the health care system. “Every year, in the young infant population, RSV is really the respiratory virus that causes emergency room overcrowding, hospitalizations, complications and everything.”
Countries that have recently taken advantage of this treatment, such as France and Spain, have observed “grandiose impacts”, she adds.
Elsewhere in Canada, Ontario will also make nirsevimab available to newborns on its territory, the daily reported on Friday. The Globe and Mail.
According to the newspaper, the western provinces will not be able to implement such a program for the time being, in particular because of the significant costs involved.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization, however, recommends the use of nirsevimab, underlines the DD Caroline Quach-Thanh: “I feel very lucky to be in a province where we were able to quickly implement this program for this year.”