RSV SEASON 2024/2025
Updated October 18, 2024
The cooler season has arrived and that means respiratory illnesses are also on the rise. Viruses such as Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial (a.k.a. “the flu” and “RSV”) and COVID are typically major causes of illnesses during the fall/winter respiratory season.
ABOUT RSV Shots
What is RSV?
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. We typically see a significant increase in RSV infections in the fall and winter months.
RSV infection can happen at any age; however, it can be more serious in young children and older adults with underlying health conditions such as asthma, chronic heart or lung disease, and those with weakened immune systems.
Find out more about RSV at these websites: Toronto Public Health, Ontario RSV Program and Government of Canada.
Are the Shots covered by OHIP?
Currently, RSV immunizations are only publicly funded for the highest risk populations and settings.
Magenta Health is only allowed to order and provide RSV shots for a very specific subset of the eligible group.
Types of RSV Shots
The Ontario RSV Program is offering two types of RSV shots depending on age of the patient.
The RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) is available for eligible older adults and pregnant individuals.
The RSV monoclonal antibody (Beyfortus) is available for eligible children up-to 24 months of age.
Getting your RSV shot
…outside of magenta health:
High-risk older adults (60+) who are eligible as listed on the Ontario RSV Program can get their RSV shots at specific locations. Unfortunately, as a community-based primary care facility, Magenta Health is unable to order publicly funded RSV vaccines for this high-risk older adult population group.
Older adults (60+) who are not eligible for the publicly funded vaccine but wish to privately purchase the RSV vaccine can book an appointment with their family doctor to get a prescription. Both our co-located pharmacy partners, Queen East Medical Pharmacy at Beaches and Viva Pharmacy at Midtown, are able to fill the prescription and administer the vaccine.
…at magenta health:
The publicly funded RSV prevention program only allows Magenta Health to provide RSV shots to very specific group of patients. You can get the RSV vaccine or monoclonal antibody shot at Magenta Health if you are an active patient of one of the physicians AND are at least one of the following:
Pregnant individuals who are between 32 to 36 weeks pregnant who will deliver near the start of or during the 2024–25 RSV season.
Newborns born in 2024 and 2025 who have not had the RSV monoclonal antibody given to them at the hospital after birth and whose birth mother did not receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. There may be situations where the newborn can still receive the RSV antibody even if their birth mother had received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy - see FAQs for more details.
Children up to 24 months old with high-risk medical conditions.
WHAT appointments will be available?
Due to the government restrictions on ordering and stocking of the RSV shots, we have limited nurse appointments available for booking to ensure that we have available stock.
HOW can I book an appointment if I am eligible?
Appointments are currently available for pregnant patients. Click here to book RSV shot appointments for pregnant patients. We will update this page when RSV shot appointments for infants are available.
RSV FAQs
WHAT options are available to help protect infants from RSV?
To help protect infants from RSV, either the RSV monoclonal antibody (Beyfortus) is given after birth OR the birth parent can get the RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) during pregnancy.
WHICH RSV prevention product should I choose if I will give birth during the RSV season?
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends the RSV monoclonal antibody (Beyfortus) as the preferred product to protect infants. For more details, please review the fact sheet provided by Ontario Health.
Newborns generally will not be eligible for the RSV monoclonal antibody at birth if their mother has already received the RSV vaccine at 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. In general, only one product is recommended to protect infants - either RSV monoclonal antibody after birth or RSV vaccine given to pregnant mother before birth. Receiving both antibody and vaccine is not expected to provide additional benefit. More information is available on the Ontario RSV webpage.
However, there are certain specific medical scenarios where the child may still be eligible for the publicly funded RSV monoclonal antibody even though the birth mother received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy.
Book an appointment with your Magenta Health physician if you have further questions about the RSV prevention products that are currently available.