The Sudbury Health Unit has issued an alert to local physicians advising that older adults — 60 years plus — should be getting the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.
The alert, posted on the Public Health Sudbury and Districts website recently, said that RSV vaccine administration can commence immediately.
This year, the Ministry of Health has announced that the high-risk older adult RSV program will be continuing, said the alert, which is distributed to primary care providers throughout the health unit jurisdiction.
Studies show that the RSV vaccine provides multi-year protection against infection. Individuals who meet the high-risk criteria and received a dose of the RSV vaccine in the 2023-2024 campaign do not need to receive another dose of the vaccine this season.
The alert said the vaccine will be free for people who are previously unimmunized against RSV, aged 60 and older, and meet one of the following descriptors:
- They are residents in long-term care homes (LTCH), Elder Care Lodge, or retirement homes.
- They are in a hospital receiving alternate level of care (ALC), or a similar setting (such as complex continuing care or hospital transitional programs).
- They are receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
- They are a recipient of solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
- They are experiencing homelessness.
- They identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis.
The health unit said two RSV vaccines will be available this season; Arexvy (GlaxoSmithKline Inc.) used last season, and Abrysvo™ (Pfizer Canada ULC) which has been procured for 2024-2025. Arexvy will continue to be provided by Public Health until the provincial supply is depleted. Abrysvo™ will be provided in your vaccine orders after this time.
Additional clinical information was published on the PHSD website.
