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RSV vaccine uptake among older Canadians is alarmingly low, with only 34% of those 75+ and 21% of high-risk adults aged 60–74 vaccinated. Despite strong recommendations from Canada's national immunization advisory body, patchy provincial funding means access depends heavily on where you live. Experts warn that RSV poses serious risks for seniors — including hospitalization and death — and urge clinicians to step up the conversation.
As respiratory virus season approaches, Canada is facing a significant RSV vaccination gap among its most vulnerable population. New government data reveal that only 34% of Canadians aged 75 and older have received the RSV vaccine, and just 21% of those aged 60–74 with chronic conditions are vaccinated — well below what public health experts consider protective. Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommends the vaccine for all adults 75+ and for high-risk adults aged 65–74, but provinces retain the authority to decide what gets publicly funded.
The result is a patchwork of coverage across the country. British Columbia, Ontario, and PEI cover adults 75+, while Alberta extends coverage to those 70+ and certain high-risk groups. Experts stress that RSV is far more than a childhood illness — in adults 65+, it drives roughly 336,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 in-hospital deaths globally each year. Real-world data suggest the vaccine meaningfully reduces hospitalizations and ICU admissions, with efficacy potentially lasting two or more seasons.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Clinicians are on the front lines of closing this gap, but a doctor's recommendation doesn't guarantee access. Unequal provincial funding means a senior's protection from a potentially deadly virus can hinge on their postal code — a disparity experts say must be addressed to ease the burden on hospitals during peak respiratory season.