Parents and doctors in B.C. urge the province to fund RSV shots for all infants, warning that high costs and rising hospitalizations make access urgent.
Parents, Doctors Urge B.C. to Fund RSV Protection for All Infants
Rising Demand for Wider Access
Parents and physicians across British Columbia are calling for nirsevimab — an RSV immunization for infants — to be publicly funded for all families. Their plea follows growing frustration that, unlike most provinces, B.C. still requires the majority of parents to pay out of pocket for the preventative antibody, which costs between $800 and $900.
Personal Struggles Illustrate the Challenge
Northern B.C. family physician Dr. Patrick Hemmons says he had to travel to Seattle last year to purchase a dose privately for his preterm daughter. He describes the experience as “stressful and unnecessary,” arguing that no Canadian family should need to cross borders to access a medication proven to reduce severe RSV in infants.
Provinces Split on Funding Decisions
Nirsevimab — approved by Health Canada in April 2023 and distributed under the name Beyfortus — is publicly funded for all infants in most provinces. The exceptions are British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick, which only cover high-risk infants or those living in specific remote regions. Despite being born early, Hemmons’ daughter did not qualify under B.C.’s current criteria.
RSV Poses Significant Health and Economic Burdens
RSV typically causes mild cold-like symptoms but can lead to serious complications for newborns and older adults. A University of British Columbia study found that babies under six months accounted for 45% of RSV-related hospitalizations nationwide and nearly half of the annual treatment costs, estimated at $32.5 million. Calgary parent Katrina Bellavance, whose infant daughter was hospitalized with RSV in 2023, says broad immunization access could prevent traumatic hospital stays and ease pressure on the health-care system.
National Guidance Supports Universal Coverage
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended prioritizing high-risk infants due to the high price of the antibody but also advised provinces to move toward universal infant RSV immunization. The committee emphasized that broad coverage would be medically beneficial and economically sound in the long term.
B.C. Signals Potential Policy Revisions
The B.C. Ministry of Health says eligibility criteria are reviewed annually and confirmed that 4,000 publicly funded doses will be available for high-risk infants during the 2025-26 RSV season. Parents of infants who do not qualify may still obtain the medication privately, depending on manufacturer stock.
Pediatrician and former CMA president Dr. Katharine Smart believes B.C. and other holdout provinces may eventually expand coverage, citing both health-care pressures and the high costs associated with RSV hospitalizations. She warns that limited provincial funding also reduces public awareness, leaving families uninformed about the immunization even when they are willing to pay.
“We need to ensure families know nirsevimab exists,” she said. “But even more importantly, we need to make it accessible to every baby.”
