RSV immunization nearly eliminates ICU admissions for infants in Canada
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Researchers with the University of Calgary, led SPRINT-KIDS program found that a new immunization sharply reduced severe RSV illness in infants across Ontario and Quebec, Canada.
The team evaluated data from the 2024 to 2025 RSV season, focusing on the effectiveness of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody providing infants with pre-made antibodies against the virus. They discovered nirsevimab protected against hospitalization in 79% of cases and prevented ICU admission in 97% of cases.
The study revealed that most infants hospitalized with RSV were previously healthy, with only 3% having pre-existing health conditions. This finding supports a universal approach to RSV prevention, offering the immunization to all infants rather than attempting to identify those at highest risk. Health Canada approved nirsevimab in 2023, and both Ontario and Quebec began offering it to all infants through publicly funded programs in the fall of 2024.
Up to 2% of infants born in Canada require hospitalization due to RSV annually, making this preventative measure potentially impactful for public health.
