N.B. to provide free RSV vaccine for some seniors

The 2024-25 respiratory season is underway and for the first time, New Brunswick will offer some seniors immunization against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, for free.

The RSV vaccines are now publicly funded for New Brunswickers aged 60 or older who live in a nursing home or adult residential facility, or are hospitalized while awaiting a long-term care placement, the Department of Health has confirmed.

"This is good news," said Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights, who called on the government a year ago to fund the vaccine, which costs between $200 and $300.

But Cassista contends all seniors 60 and older should be covered. It's "extremely important," she said.

"Any type of preventative measures that we can give the seniors, we should be doing it. We should not be delaying it. I mean, because in the long run what it does, it impacts our health-care system and so it affects a lot of people."

Strongly recommended for anyone 75 and older

RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus most people contract by the age of two. It usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but for more vulnerable populations it can result in hospitalization and even death, claiming an estimated 118,200 lives globally each year.

Seniors, infants, and people who are immunocompromised or live with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease or diabetes, are considered most at risk of developing severe illness.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization, or NACI, has strongly recommended RSV immunization programs for those aged 60 and up who are residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities, as well as for anyone aged 75 or older.

Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights, said she has heard from "a lot" of seniors who are "really concerned" about the cost of the RSV vaccine. (Ian Bonnell/CBC)

For those aged 60 to 74, an RSV vaccine "may be considered as an individual decision … in consultation with their health care provider," the national advisory body said in July.

Health Canada has approved two vaccines to protect those 60 and older from  RSV. Only one dose is recommended.

Cost prohibitive

"I'm really pleased that the [New Brunswick] government is going to cover the cost [for some seniors], but I think they need to expand it," said Cassista, noting many seniors are on a fixed income and have been asking her about coverage.

"They certainly can't afford that and it is scary for them."

Sharon Geldart, 79, of Riverview, is among them. She's in good health but wants the RSV vaccine to protect herself.

"At this age, anything can happen at any time and protection is worth the effort," said Geldart, who also gets the annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccines. "I feel that's why I've been so healthy up until now."

Sharon Geldart believes all New Brunswickers 60 or older should be able to get the vaccine for free, regardless of where they live. (Submitted by Sharon Geldart)

Having to pay up to $300, however, is "a little much."

"There's not many of us that have much extra money for anything extra other than meeting our main needs for just living and groceries," said Geldart, who lives in an apartment complex for people 50 and up and is a member of the town's seniors' roundtable.

Public Health based eligibility for publicly funded RSV vaccines on NACI's recommendations and allocations from the provincial and federal governments, said Department of Health spokesperson Katelin Dean.

She did not respond to questions about how much the vaccine is expected to cost the province, or how much it's expected to save in related health-care costs.

Nor did she say if or when coverage might be expanded.

RSV is the leading cause of respiratory infections and hospitalizations among Canadian infants. (Martha Irvine/Associated Press)

Some provinces are providing the RSV vaccine at no cost to a broader range of seniors. Ontario, for example, will also be providing the shots for free to those 60 and older who are patients receiving dialysis, recipients of organ or stem cell transplants, those who are homelessness, and individuals who identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis.

New Brunswick won't cover two new RSV vaccines approved by Health Canada and recommended by NACI to protect infants this season.

NACI recommended provinces prioritize vaccinating children at severe risk, but work toward "a universal RSV immunization program for all infants."

1st RSV case of season confirmed

RSV is now a reportable disease in New Brunswick, which means lab staff must submit positive test results to the regional public health team, where additional information will be collected about each case.

RSV has also been added to the province's Respiratory Watch report, along with COVID-19 and influenza, including cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and outbreaks.

Although the latest report shows no RSV cases detected between Aug. 25 and Sept. 7, New Brunswick recorded its first confirmed RSV case of the season during the week ending Aug. 31, according to Health Canada's online laboratory data report on respiratory virus trends in Canada.

Asked about the discrepancy, the Department of Health spokesperson Dean said: "Numbers in the Respiratory Watch report are subject to change due to reporting delays and they will be captured in subsequent reports." She did not respond to a request for information about the positive case, such as the person's age, condition or location.

The Department of Health did not provide New Brunswick's 2022-23 total or any breakdowns, but as of May the province had recorded 1,920 positive cases. The previous season saw a record-high of 2,066 cases.