A mother from Winnipeg is sounding the alarm, urging the provincial government to provide respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) shots to all infants. Her distress comes as she watches her newborn struggle to breathe, grappling with the fear that her baby might not survive the ordeal.

Despite rising hospitalization rates for RSV among infants, Manitoba has decided not to make the RSV shot available to all babies this fall. The mother, who requested her identity be kept private due to her role in the healthcare sector, expressed confusion and frustration. "There are illnesses we can’t protect him from… but to know that there is something out there that we could do to protect my baby and all infants, it doesn’t sit right with me," she emphasized.

While Manitoba has opted out of universal shots, neighboring provinces like Ontario and Quebec, along with Nunavut, are stepping up by offering the RSV vaccine free of charge this fall. This monoclonal antibody, known as nirsevimab, was approved by Health Canada in April 2023 and is designed to bolster infants' immune responses against RSV. Unlike the existing high-risk treatment palivizumab, which is more expensive and requires monthly administration, nirsevimab is administered as a single dose lasting at least five months.

In Manitoba, only some high-risk infants can receive palivizumab through a provincial program, leaving many healthy babies, including the mother’s three-month-old, vulnerable. The province attempted to transition to the more efficient nirsevimab but faced roadblocks when the drug manufacturer, Sanofi, limited access to publicly funded programs.

The concerned mother has taken her advocacy further by reaching out to health officials multiple times, seeking clarification and express concern regarding the lack of access to effective prevention. Her attempts to purchase nirsevimab at local pharmacies revealed it is not available on the private market, even considering a potential trip to Kenora for options. Unfortunately, she learned infants from Manitoba cannot receive the shot in Ontario, exacerbating her feelings of helplessness.

As discussions surrounding this issue heat up, healthcare experts and political figures in Manitoba are calling for the adoption of a universal immunization program similar to those already implemented in other provinces. Kathleen Cook, the Progressive Conservative health critic, emphasized the need for the government to explore all solutions to reduce RSV cases in Manitoba.

The world of maternal health is also evolving. Pregnant women in Manitoba can access the RSVpreF vaccine during their third trimester, which can help protect their newborns, but at a cost of around $230. Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has recommended nirsevimab as the preferred option for babies over maternal vaccination.

Further fueling discussions, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, hinted at the possibility of a universal RSV immunization program in the future, suggesting that efforts are underway following the latest advice from NACI.

RSV season typically begins in late fall, and the previous year saw a staggering total of 280 admissions for RSV-related issues among children under two, marking a nine-year high. Authorities are urging the public to follow health guidelines—frequent hand-washing and avoiding contact with those exhibiting symptoms—to curb the virus’s spread.

With more than 15,700 babies born in Manitoba in 2023 alone, the call for action grows louder. Will the province heed the pleas of concerned parents and health experts before the RSV season hits full swing? The urgency is palpable, and parents are left wondering when they will receive the options necessary to safeguard their little ones.