Alberta doctors renew calls for RSV shot for all newborns, after hundreds hospitalized

On the heels of a fall and winter that saw hundreds of Alberta babies and toddlers hospitalized and two young children die due to RSV, questions are being raised about whether some of these severe outcomes could have been prevented.

And while there are fresh calls for the Alberta government to offer a preventative injection to all newborns, the province says it is taking steps to protect those at highest risk.

According to Alberta's respiratory virus dashboard, 1,544 Alberta children and teens have been hospitalized due to RSV since the end of August, including 150 intensive care unit admissions.

More than half of those hospitalized — 810 of them — were under one year of age. A further 614 were between the ages of one and four. 

One infant under the age of one died and another child between the ages of five and nine also died.

"We had so many babies in the hospital suffering with this," said Dr. Sidd Thakore, a pediatrician working at Alberta Children's Hospital.

He was on the front lines as the hospital faced a surge of RSV patients over the winter and describes treating infants who were struggling to breathe and gasping for air.

"We were just trying to keep on top of it and supporting the babies and their families."

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Dr. Sam Wong, the president of the section of pediatrics with the Alberta Medical Association, said hospitals see a wave of RSV every winter and it takes a toll on families and health-care providers.

"Seeing the distress that the parents are going through at the time — watching their kid struggle to breathe — it's a huge problem," he said.

"And we continue to see a problem with RSV." 

Preventative shot offered by other provinces

The Alberta government faced calls to offer nirsevimab, a newer preventative injection, for free to all newborns last year. Despite being offered in some other provinces, it was not available in Alberta.

The monoclonal antibody shot, which was approved by Health Canada in 2023 and is given in a single dose, contains lab-made proteins that act like those created by the body's own immune system.

In response to questions from CBC News last week, Alberta Health confirmed it now plans to offer limited coverage starting this fall.

"For the 2025-26 season, the Alberta Pediatric RSV Prevention Program will offer nirsevimab (Beyfortus) to high-risk infants," an Alberta Health official said in an emailed statement.

"A cost-effectiveness and feasibility analysis, conducted by the Institute of Health Economics, is underway to inform decisions for the 2026-27 season."

Currently, high-risk infants are treated with an older monoclonol antibody injection, given monthly through the RSV season.

Ontario and Quebec announced full-fledged provincially funded nirsevimab programs last year. Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Yukon also offered coverage. 

And Saskatchewan announced earlier this month that it too plans to cover the injection for newborns.

Wong believes providing the shot to a specific group of high-risk babies is the "bare minimum" Alberta should be doing.

He'd like to see the province offer universal coverage, providing nirsevimab for free to all infants under eight months of age who are heading into, or who are born during, their first RSV season."

"I think if we actually moved to universal administration of … nirsevimab, we'd probably see a huge reduction in the number of infants under the age of one year being admitted to hospital," said Wong.

"I would be happy to not take care patients with RSV. I've seen some really sick patients."

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According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), nirsevimab has been shown to reduce hospital admission associated with RSV by 81 to 83 per cent. 

Thakore is also calling on the province to provide the shot for free to all newborns.

"If you asked any of those parents out there that had their child in hospital and [were] watching their child suffer, I think there would be a high number of parents that would say, 'I wish I had the opportunity to provide my child with an immunization that could have prevented this," he said.

Respiratory syncytial virus is a common infection that often causes mild cold-like symptoms. 

But it can lead to more serious illness in premature babies, young infants and children with underlying health conditions. Older people are also at higher risk.

Last year, NACI recommended provinces move toward universal immunization of all infants to protect against RSV and said nirsevimab is the preferred option.

"Priority for immunization programs should be given to infants who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease in their first or second RSV season," the NACI guidance said.

"When possible, the program should be expanded to all other infants entering or born during their first RSV season."

According to NACI, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in babies and young children.

Meanwhile, the Alberta government has already expanded eligibility for the RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, among older adults, who are also at higher risk of severe illness.

While there have been calls for the province to cover Abrysvo for pregnant Albertans (who can pass on immunity to their newborns) people currently have to pay out of pocket for it.

The province said it's waiting for updated guidance from NACI before it makes a decision about offering RSV vaccines to those who are pregnant.