Northern B.C. doctor calls for RSV shots to be available to all infants 

Dr. Patrick Hemmons, a family physician in northern British Columbia, faced a dilemma when his daughter Saoirse was born prematurely last year. With the respiratory illness season approaching, he wanted to protect her from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a potentially serious infection for newborns.

Nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody that can protect babies from RSV, was not widely available in British Columbia. Hemmons had to travel to a clinic in Seattle, Washington, to secure a dose for his daughter. This journey highlighted the lack of accessibility to important medications in rural areas.

RSV is a common virus that usually causes mild cold symptoms but can lead to severe illness in vulnerable groups like newborns. Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, emphasized the vulnerability of young babies to RSV, particularly during their first few months of life.

Nirsevimab, also known as Beyfortus, was approved by Health Canada in April 2023. It is recommended for all infants during their first RSV season in the fall and winter. The medication has shown an 80% reduction in medically attended RSV respiratory tract infections in healthy infants.

While Ontario, Quebec, and the territories offer nirsevimab for free to all infants, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has not recommended it for all infants due to its high cost. The committee suggested prioritizing higher-risk infants, like premature babies, and working towards a universal RSV immunization program for all infants in the future.

Hemmons expressed disappointment that his daughter did not qualify for nirsevimab in British Columbia despite being at risk due to her premature birth. The B.C. Infant RSV Immunoprophylaxis Program only provides the antibody to high-risk infants and those born in specific remote communities due to limited doses.

Hemmons was shocked to learn that the rural communities of Fraser Lake and Saik’uz, where he practices, do not qualify as remote and are ineligible for nirsevimab. He called for addressing this inequity to protect all infants from RSV.

Dr. Papenburg hopes to see nirsevimab become more accessible nationwide to protect all babies from RSV, the leading cause of hospitalization in Canada during the first year of life. Cost-effectiveness is crucial for the widespread implementation of this safe and effective preventive measure.