Alberta doctors urge province to offer free RSV shot to all newborns to cut health risks, hospital visits

Pediatricians are calling on the Alberta government to provide a preventative RSV shot for free to all newborns this fall, saying the move could spare many babies from getting very sick and reduce pressure on hospitals during the busy respiratory virus season.

Alberta began offering the antibody shot nirsevimab to certain high-risk infants (including premature babies and those admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit) during the 2025-26 season.

But the province stopped short of offering universal coverage, which is already in place in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

In a letter sent to Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange earlier this month, the Alberta Medical Association’s section of pediatrics urged the government to provide the preventative shot for free to all babies younger than six months old at the start of the RSV season and to all those born during the coming RSV season.

This is something I would love to see in my rearview mirror.– Dr. Sam Wong, pediatrician

“We see, every year, kids coming into hospital regularly requiring oxygen and some end up in ICU. And it’s not unheard of for children to die of RSV,” said Dr. Sam Wong, an Edmonton-based pediatrician and president of the association’s pediatrics section.

Alberta’s respiratory virus dashboard shows that as of Wednesday, 516 babies under the age of one have been hospitalized due to RSV so far this season, and 59 infants have been admitted to the ICU.

No infant deaths have been reported so far.

Most children have been exposed to respiratory syncytial virus by the time they turn two years old, Wong said. 

And while it often causes mild cold-like symptoms, it can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia and bronchiolitis, which occurs when inflammation and mucus build up in the smaller airways, leading to breathing problems.

“I’ve been there: up all night, watching a baby struggle to breathe, trying to figure out what else I can do to support them … and whether they need to end up going to ICU or not,” said Wong.

“This is something I would love to see in my rearview mirror.”

Although infants with certain underlying medical conditions have an increased risk of severe disease, the majority of hospitalizations and deaths are among babies who are otherwise healthy, according to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

‘A top priority’

Health Canada approved the monoclonal antibody injection nirsevimab in 2023. And the federal agency authorized a new shot, clesrovimab, in February.

The injections contain lab-made proteins that act like those created by the body’s own immune system. 

Edmonton-based pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Karina Top said a universal program for infants would not only keep babies healthy but also significantly reduce the impact on pediatric wards and emergency rooms during the winter season while preventing strain on families such as missed work for parents.

“I think this should be a top priority,” said Top, who was not involved in writing the letter.

“To me it seems like a pretty easy, straightforward and effective and safe way to decrease the strain on our health care system as well as improving health.” 

Top pointed to an analysis cited by NACI involving real world data from multiple jurisdictions that shows nirsevimab reduced RSV-related hospitalization by 83 per cent.

“This appears to be a game changer in the world of RSV, which I don’t say lightly,” she said.

“I really hope the government will fund an RSV program for the fall.”

Updated guidance

The NACI issued updated guidance last week, strongly recommending provinces adopt universal seasonal RSV immunization programs for infants. NACI said that could include either universal coverage of the monoclonal antibody shots for newborns or a combination of a vaccine given during pregnancy and the antibody shots for higher risk infants.

Pregnant Albertans currently have to pay for the RSV vaccine (Abrysvo).

Despite these calls, the Alberta government is not committing to expanding the infant RSV program, saying it is currently under review.

“We recognize the importance of monoclonal antibodies in protecting infants from RSV infection and are taking an evidence-based approach to ensure publicly funded programs deliver the greatest health benefit,” said Maddison McKee, the press secretary for Alberta’s Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services.

Who is eligible for the 2026-27 season will be determined based on “expert advice,” the ministry said in an emailed statement.

“At this time, no decision has been made regarding universal coverage,” said McKee.

“To inform future approaches, we have asked the Institute of Health Economics to conduct an Alberta-specific cost-effectiveness and feasibility analysis to guide RSV prevention for future seasons.”

British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick are the other provinces that limited coverage to infants who are deemed high risk, during the 2025-26 season.