Alberta to cover pricey RSV vaccine for some older people

Some groups of Alberta seniors will be able to get the RSV vaccine, for free, starting later this month.

The Alberta government announced Monday that the RSV vaccine, Abyrsvo, will be provincially funded for Albertans, aged 60 and up, who live in continuing care and supportive living homes.

Limited supplies of the provincially funded vaccine will also be available to people 75 and older, who live in the community.

"These are the right things that they should be doing," said Dr. Samir Sinha, a geriatrician at the Toronto-based University Health Network and the director of health policy research at the National Institute on Aging.

"This is a very, very effective vaccine and one that's going to help keep a lot more older adults out of hospital."

• Bookings open for COVID-19, flu and RSV shots for Albertans

Health Canada approved two RSV vaccines — Abysvo and Arexvy — for use in older adults in 2023. 

And the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends RSV vaccination for these groups.

But RSV shots come with a hefty price tag, which has prompted concerns about access.

"Last year about 13 per cent of older Canadians who are eligible did get the RSV vaccine. But last year everyone pretty much had to pay for it out of pocket," said Sinha, noting the vaccine costs upwards of $300.

"That really means that there were a lot of people who really could have benefited from this vaccine who were just completely unable to get it."

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According to Health Canada, while RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) often results in mild cold-like symptoms, some people can become very ill, including seniors, infants and those who are immunocompromised.

"Like influenza and like COVID it can progress to severe disease and cause lower respiratory inflammation ... mostly in people at higher risk," said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist with the University of Alberta.

"Overall hospitalization from RSV is much less than from the other big-name respiratory viruses but it is still a significant risk for the individual who is older with risk factors."

Limited supply

As with COVID-19 and flu shot distribution, outreach teams will offer the vaccine to Albertans in care homes.

Those living in the community, who are eligible, can access the publicly-funded vaccine through some pharmacies and AHS public health centres.

But the provincial government said those supplies will be limited.

And, as a result, the number of pharmacies participating in the publicly funded RSV program is capped.

"Limits on the supply of the Abrysvo vaccine were placed by Public Services Procurement Canada under the Government of Canada," an Alberta Health spokesperson said in an email.

"By limiting the supply to 500 pharmacies, we will ensure that more vaccines will be available at select locations, minimizing waste and maximizing uptake as sending vaccine packages to over 1,700 community pharmacies would dilute the supply too quickly."

Randy Howden, who owns two Medicine Shoppe locations in Calgary, said his Crowfoot store is one of the pharmacies selected to participate.

"We know that those over 75 are at risk of hospitalization and worse due to the RSV virus and this is the first time we've seen the government offer coverage for these individuals," said Howden, past-president of the Alberta Pharmacists' Association.

"If we get more vaccine and have more supply there hopefully will be ways to expand it in the future."

While he welcomes the news, Howden is still waiting to find out how many doses he'll be getting and when the shipments will arrive.

"Although people might be really excited about it we're kind of struggling right now to be able to answer all of their questions until we have our questions answered," he said.

Alberta is recommending people wait at least two weeks — either before or after receiving the flu and COVID-19 vaccines — before getting the RSV shot.

"Based on current information I would go COVID and influenza first... And I would do RSV second, just because it's a later peak and there's less data on co-administration," said Saxinger.

People can book their vaccines through the Alberta Vaccine Booking System, by calling Health Link or by contacting a pharmacy directly.

Bookings opened Monday and appointments for RSV shots are expected to begin on Oct. 21.

People who are not eligible for the publicly funded doses can purchase the vaccine in pharmacies.