The Ontario Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Prevention Program will offer vaccination for older adults, infants and high-risk children starting this fall. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has vaccines available for the eligible groups under each program as outlined below.

Per the Ontario Ministry of Health, RSV vaccine for older adults may be administered as soon as doses are received. RSV vaccine administration for pregnant individuals, infants, and high-risk children starts on October 1^st.

Adult RSV Vaccine Program

Products available: Abrysvo and Arexvy.

Current Eligibility: One dose is available to Ontario residents who meet any of the following criteria:

• all individuals aged 75 and older (new for the 2025-26 season)

• individuals 60 to 74 years of age who are also:

  • residents of long-term care homes, Elder Care Lodges, or retirement homes including similar settings (e.g., co-located facilities).

  • patients in hospital receiving alternate level of care (ALC) including similar settings (for example, complex continuing care, hospital transitional programs)

  • Patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) who are moderately to severely immunocompromised

  • patients receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis

  • recipients of solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants

  • individuals experiencing homelessness

  • individuals who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis

Note: If an individual has previously received a dose of RSV vaccine they do not need to receive another dose this season, as booster doses are not currently recommended.

Infant and High-Risk Children RSV Prevention Program

Products available: Abrysvo and Beyfortus®

Current Eligibility: One dose is available to Ontario residents who meet any of the following criteria:

For Abrysvo: Pregnant individuals between 32-36 weeks gestation who will deliver during the RSV season, following a discussion with a health care provider.

For Beyfortus® :

• Infants born April 1, 2025 or after and less than 8 months of age up to the end of the RSV season.

• High-risk children up to 24 months of age in their second RSV season, following discussion with a healthcare provider, including children with:

  • Chronic lung disease of prematurity, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia/chronic lung disease.

  • Hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease.

  • Severe immunodeficiency.

  • Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21.

  • Cystic fibrosis with recurrent pulmonary exacerbations requiring hospitalization, deteriorating pulmonary function and/or growth delay.

  • Neuromuscular disease impairing clearing of respiratory secretions

  • Severe congenital airway anomalies impairing clearing of respiratory secretions.

Note:

• To ensure effective protection during the respiratory season, Beyfortus® should be administered in the fall, as it provides six months of protection.

• Administration of both the vaccine to the pregnant individual and a monoclonal antibody to the infant is NOT recommended except under specific circumstances:

  • Infants born less than 14 days after administration of Abrysvo^TM OR

  • Infants who meet the medical criteria for increased risk of severe RSV disease:

    • All premature infants (i.e., <37 weeks gestation)

    • Infants who meet any of the above high-risk criteria

Additional Resources:

• WECHU website: 2025-2026 RSV Prevention Program Resources

• Ontario Ministry of Health website: Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Ontario.ca

Ordering Instructions

Please note the following before completing your order: 

• RSV vaccine is now available to order.

• Please be reminded that the number of doses that you receive in your order may be adjusted at the discretion of the public health unit in accordance with vaccine supply. As a result, it is recommended that providers do not book appointments prior to receiving RSV vaccine.

• You will be notified by the WECHU when your order is ready. For vaccine pick up, coolers must be pre-chilled to temperatures between 2-8°C and all transport equipment must be present.

• If you plan to have your order delivered by Medex; please contact Medex at 519-735-7273 to arrange your delivery.

If you have questions, contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at vaccine@wechu.org or call 519-258-2146 ext. 1121.