The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) has announced the availability of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for older adults at higher risk of severe illness. RSV, a common seasonal respiratory virus, spreads through respiratory droplets and can lead to serious health complications in vulnerable groups.
Ontario’s publicly funded RSV prevention program is currently available to high-risk adults aged 60 and older, including residents of long-term care and retirement homes, dialysis patients, transplant recipients, those experiencing homelessness, and Indigenous individuals.
Those who received the RSV vaccine last year do not need another dose, as the vaccine offers multi-year protection.
“RSV immunization is a crucial tool to protect high-risk older adults and their communities as the virus becomes more active this fall and winter,” said Dr. Jason Morgenstern, Medical Officer of Health at RCDHU.
Eligible individuals can get the vaccine through their healthcare provider or book an appointment by calling RCDHU’s immunization line at 613-732-9436 or 1-800-267-1097, extension 509.
(Written by: Emma Butler)