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Thanks to a rapid, coordinated response, seven in 10 babies born at eastern Ontario hospitals received protection from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, during the first season of Ontario’s new immunization program — a major step forward in safeguarding infant health.
This feat was accomplished thanks to leadership from CHEO and Kids Come First, which mobilized rapidly once Ontario launched its publicly funded protection program for RSV in November 2024.
The provincial program made the one-time immunization universally available for infants born in 2024, or during the RSV season (November to March), and select high-risk children up to24 months of age.
In eastern Ontario, the Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program and BORN Ontario worked with area birthing hospitals by providing them with RSV educational resources and information to ensure newborns were protected.
Outside the hospital, Ottawa Public Health and the Kids Come First Vaccinate and Up-to-Date campaign worked to bring the RSV immunization to community health centres.
A vaccine was also made available for pregnant people to help protect their unborn child.
RSV, a leading cause of hospitalization for young children between late fall and early spring, affects the airway and lungs and often causes cold-like symptoms. It is also the most common cause of a chest infection called bronchiolitis.
The immunization has shown an 80 per cent reduction in RSV-related hospitalization and need for medical assessment, and a decrease in RSV-related infant hospitalizations by 57 per cent.
For more information on RSV, you can visit CHEO’s website. For more information on the RSV vaccine, visit our vaccination and immunization page.