Infant RSV Protection: Begin Discussing with Expectant Parents Now

To: Health Care Professionals in Niagara
From: Clinical Services Division, Niagara Region Public Health
Reference: Infant RSV Protection: Begin Discussing with Expectant Parents Now
Date: August 31, 2026

Preliminary data from the 2025-2026 respiratory season show that approximately 61.7%* of infants born to Niagara residents received RSV protection through either the RSV monoclonal antibody (Beyfortus®) before hospital discharge or RSV vaccination (Abrysvo®) during pregnancy. Evidence suggests that achieving 90% RSV protection is necessary to significantly reduce hospitalizations and realize population-level benefits.

Despite increasing uptake from the 2024-2025 season (approximately 55.1%), parental decline continues to be the most common reason infants do not receive RSV protection.

Public Health is encouraging health care providers to begin discussing infant RSV protection with expectant parents. Early conversations help families understand available options, ask questions, and make informed decisions.

Discussing RSV Protection Options with Patients

When discussing RSV prevention, consider providing information about:

The risks of RSV infection in infants
Protection through Beyfortus®, a monoclonal antibody administered directly to eligible infants
Protection through Abrysvo®, an RSV vaccine administered during pregnancy
Where patients can access reliable information and future program updates (e.g. Respiratory Syncytial Virus | ontario.ca; ensure the footer of the webpage says “2026”)

Current Provincial Direction

In August 2026, the Ontario Ministry of Health indicated to public health units that Ontario will continue to offer Beyfortus® as the primary RSV prevention option for eligible infants and high-risk children, based on its demonstrated effectiveness and duration of protection. Final provincial guidance for the 2026-2027 season is forthcoming.

Public Health will send a memo once provincial guidance has been released and the start date for the 2026-2027 RSV season has been confirmed.

For More Information

Call Public Health at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396

*Data are still considered preliminary and subject to change. This overall coverage for the respiratory season is likely to be underestimated given incomplete data at this time. Data for Beyfortus® coverage estimates include doses administered before hospital discharge and do not capture doses administered in the community.