Alberta to pay for expensive RSV vaccine for some seniors

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

alberta government announced on Monday The respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, Abyrsvo, will be funded by the province for Albertans aged 60 and older who live in continuous care and assisted living residences.

A limited supply of state-funded vaccines will be available to people 75 and older living in the area.

“These are the right things for them to do,” said Dr. Sameer Sinha, a geriatrician at the Toronto-based University Health Network and director of health policy research at the National Institute on Aging.

“This is a highly effective vaccine and will help keep more older people out of the hospital.”

Health Canada has approved two RSV vaccines (Abysvo and Arexvy) for older adults in 2023.

and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). rRecommend RSV Vaccination of these groups.

But RSV shots come with a hefty price tag; Concerns about access.

“About 13 per cent of eligible older Canadians received the RSV vaccine last year. However, last year almost everyone had to pay for the vaccine out of pocket,” Sinha said. He pointed out that it was over $300.

“That means there were a lot of people who could have benefited from this vaccine but didn't get it at all.”

According to Health Canada, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) often causes mild cold-like symptoms; Some people may become seriously illthe elderly, young children, and people with weakened immune systems.

Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious disease expert at the University of Alberta, said: “Like influenza and the new coronavirus, it can progress to severe disease and cause lower respiratory infections…mostly in high-risk populations. ” he said.

“While overall hospitalizations for RSV are much lower than hospitalizations for other well-known respiratory viruses, it remains a significant risk for older adults with risk factors.”

limited quantity

Similar to the distribution of COVID-19 and flu shots, the outreach team will provide vaccines to Albertans in care homes.

For eligible people living in the community, publicly funded vaccines are available at some pharmacies and through AHS Public Health Centers.

But the state government said those supplies are limited.

As a result, there is a cap on the number of pharmacies participating in publicly funded RSV programs.

“The supply restrictions for the Abrisbo vaccine were imposed by the Public Service Procurement Agency of Canada, which is part of the Government of Canada,” an Alberta Health Ministry spokesperson said in an email.

“By limiting supply to 500 pharmacies, sending vaccine packages to more than 1,700 local pharmacies would dilute supply quickly, so we are minimizing wastage, maximizing uptake, and ensuring more We will make the vaccine available in select locations.”

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

“We know people over the age of 75 are at risk of hospitalization or worse from the RSV virus, but this is the first time the government is providing coverage to these people,” said Howden, past president of the Alberta Pharmacists Association. ” he said. .

“As more vaccines become available and we get more supply, we will find ways to expand that in the future.”

Howden welcomes the news, but still wants to know how many vaccine doses he will receive and when his shipment will arrive.

“People may be very excited, but we're struggling right now with not being able to answer all the questions until we get them answered,” he said.

Alberta recommends waiting at least two weeks before and after receiving influenza or COVID-19 vaccinations before getting RSV vaccination.

“Based on the latest information, I would get the COVID-19 and influenza shots first…and RSV second because it’s a later peak and there’s less data on the combination. ,” Saxinger said.

People can book a vaccine by: Alberta Vaccine Reservation Systemcall Health Link or contact your pharmacy directly.

Reservations will open on Monday, and RSV vaccination reservations are expected to begin on October 21st.

People who are not eligible for publicly funded shots can buy the vaccine at a pharmacy.