New National Implementation Brief Aims to Help Protect Canadian Infants From Severe RSV Disease

FMWC guidance equips healthcare providers and families with strategies to improve awareness, support informed conversations, and advance equitable access to RSV protection

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC), with expert guidance from the FMWC Infant RSV Protection Collective, released a new Primary Care Implementation Brief designed to support healthcare providers, public health leaders and families with evidence-based information and practical recommendations to help protect more infants from severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) disease.

RSV is one of the leading causes of infant hospitalization in Canada, and many of the most severe cases occur in healthy, full-term babies. Canada now has two proven strategies to help protect infants from severe RSV disease: maternal immunization during pregnancy and infant immunization after birth. However, many expectant parents remain unaware of RSV and the protection options available to them, while healthcare providers need current guidance and implementation resources to support informed conversations with families.^1,2

The new brief summarizes current evidence, Canadian guidance and clinical experience related to infant RSV protection. It also provides practical recommendations to help healthcare providers discuss protection, support informed decision-making, navigate local access pathways and integrate RSV protection into primary care.

Closing the awareness gap

RSV is not only a serious health risk for infants, but also a major burden on families and the healthcare system—contributing to more than 5,800 pediatric hospitalizations and $66 million in healthcare costs each year in Canada while adding seasonal pressure to emergency departments, pediatric wards, and intensive care units.²

“Many families are hearing about infant RSV protection for the first time during pregnancy or shortly after their baby is born, when they are already navigating an overwhelming amount of information,” said Dr. Shelley Ross, Family Physician and Co-Chair of the FMWC Infant RSV Protection Collective. “This brief gives healthcare providers practical tools to begin those conversations earlier, answer families’ questions and help them make informed decisions based on current evidence.”

Supporting informed conversations in primary care

National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidance strongly recommends universal, seasonal RSV immunization for infants. The guidance recognizes maternal immunization during pregnancy and infant immunization after birth as strategies for protecting babies from severe RSV disease.³

The FMWC Implementation Brief encourages healthcare providers to initiate early RSV discussions during prenatal care, share evidence-based resources, navigate local funding and access pathways, and integrate discussion prompts directly into clinical workflows.

“Healthcare providers are trusted sources of information, but they need clear and current resources to guide conversations about a rapidly evolving area of infant care,” said Dr. Vivien Brown, Family Physician and Co-Chair of the FMWC Infant RSV Protection Collective. “Our goal is to make RSV protection easier to discuss, understand and implement so that every family can consider the options available to protect their baby.”

Turning evidence into protection

During Ontario's first season of RSV protection, 73 per cent of births included RSV protection through either prenatal vaccination or infant immunization, and 69 per cent of newborns received nirsevimab before hospital discharge.⁴

These early results demonstrate the impact of a coordinated approach to RSV protection that combines broad access, public funding and integration into routine maternal and infant care.

While safe and effective RSV protection options are available in Canada, access to those options continues to vary by province, creating inequities in protection for infants and families. Eligibility criteria, funding approaches and access pathways differ across jurisdictions, meaning families may have different opportunities to protect their infants depending on where they live.

A shared role in increasing awareness

The FMWC Infant RSV Protection Collective is calling on healthcare providers, governments and public health agencies to help ensure families have access to clear, evidence-based information throughout pregnancy and to support more equitable access to available protection options across Canada.

Now is the time to ensure every family has access to the information and protection needed to make informed choices this RSV season.

About the FMWC Infant RSV Protection Collective

Convened by the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, the FMWC Infant RSV Protection Collective is a national group of clinicians and subject matter experts working to improve infant RSV protection across Canada.

Co-chaired by Dr. Shelley Ross and Dr. Vivien Brown, the Collective reviewed current evidence, Canadian guidance and implementation experience to develop recommendations focused on improving awareness, access and implementation of infant RSV protection.

For more information and to access the Primary Care Implementation Brief, please visit rsvprotect.ca.

About FMWC

The Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) is a national organization recognized for its leadership and advocacy for women's evolving health. We are committed to promoting the well-being and health of women and women-identifying individuals both within the medical profession and society at large. The FMWC has a 100-year history in Canada, is a member of the non-governmental organization (NGO) section of the Department of Global Affairs at the United Nations (UN) and is a member of the Medical Women's International Association (MWIA), making us a part of the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSO). For more information, please visit: www.fmwc.ca.

¹ Government of Canada. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide (updated 2026).
² Federation of Medical Women of Canada. RSV Protect Primary Care Implementation Brief (2026).
³ Killikelly A, Siu W, Brousseau N, on behalf of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Updated guidance to protect infants and children from RSV. Canada Communicable Disease Report (2026).
⁴ BORN Ontario. 2024–2025 RSV Season Data.
⁵ Carazo S et al. Nirsevimab effectiveness and impact on severe RSV outcomes. The Lancet Regional Health – Americas (2026).