Nirsevimab Cuts RSV ICU Admissions by 97% in Ontario, Quebec Infants
A Canadian real-world study finds the long-acting antibody shot dramatically reduces severe RSV illness in infants under universal free programs.
What to know
- Nirsevimab cut RSV-related ICU admissions by 97% and hospitalizations by 79% among infants in their first RSV season, per a JAMA Network Open study from Ontario and Quebec.
- The study, part of the SPRINT-KIDS surveillance network, found 97% of infants who caught RSV had no underlying comorbidity, supporting a universal (rather than high-risk-only) immunization strategy.
- Ontario and Quebec offer the shot free to all infants; online discussion contrasts this with the US, where one parent reported paying over $250 out of pocket.
- Some commenters describe confusion over whether nirsevimab counts as a 'vaccine' and inconsistent eligibility rules in places like Saskatchewan and Australia.
The dispute Whether the current system of access — universal and free in some regions (Ontario, Quebec) versus costly or restricted elsewhere (US, parts of Australia and Saskatchewan) — is acceptable given the shot's demonstrated benefit. · positions read across 3 posts and comments
The shot is a dramatic, welcome improvement in preventing severe RSV illness, based on personal and clinical experience.
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“I am a pediatrician in the US and this has been a HUGE GAME CHANGER. Every winter I would send 5-10 babies in significant respiratory distress to the ER from my clinic. In the last 2 years I have sent ZERO.”
Mastodon commenter · Mastodon ↗
Cost and coverage gaps, especially in the US, create unequal access and unnecessary risk for infants.
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“I'm so glad we did it for our little guy when he was born last year, but it that wasn't covered by insurance and cost us $250+ out of pocket. I feel really bad for parents who can't afford it and the babies put at unnecessary risk due to…”
OverEmploy142 · reddit ↗
Eligibility rules and messaging about whether it's a 'vaccine' have been confusing or inconsistently applied.
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“We asked for this (in Australia) last year for our infant and were told it's not a vaccine (like Abrysvo for late stage pregnancy) but a shot of antibodies... Our son wasn't qualified because he wasn't deemed high risk enough.”
Mastodon commenter · Mastodon ↗
“RSV is a leading cause of hospitalization among infants. We wanted to understand the effectiveness of nirsevimab against severe RSV in infants during their first RSV season. The results were dramatic. Nirsevimab effectiveness against hospitalizations was 79 per cent, and 97 per cent against ICU admissions.”
Dr. Sarah Buchan, First author, Public Health Ontario · University of Calgary release ↗ · Sep 13
Dr. Sarah Buchan First author; scientific lead, Communicable Disease Control, Public Health OntarioDr. Stephen Freedman Senior author; SPRINT-KIDS project lead, University of CalgarySPRINT-KIDS Network Research surveillance network
How it unfolded 4 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
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background
Reddit post amplifies the study's findings — A widely shared reddit post repeats the University of Calgary release, noting the shot is offered free to all infants through universal programs in Ontario and Quebec.
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Parents and a pediatrician describe the shot's real-world impact
A Mastodon post reposting the study draws first-hand accounts, including a US pediatrician describing a sharp drop in RSV-related ER referrals and parents in Quebec and Australia describing their experience getting the shot.
“I am a pediatrician in the US and this has been a HUGE GAME CHANGER. Every winter I would send 5-10 babies in significant respiratory distress to the ER from my clinic. In the last 2 years I have sent ZERO.”
— Mastodon commenter -
Makes you wonder, if the government is run by corporations and the healthcare lobby is massive, why are they letting RFK gut vaccine programs?
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Commenters debate cost and access to the shot in the US
Reddit commenters discuss the fact that nirsevimab is free under Canada's universal programs but cost one US parent over $250 out of pocket, sparking a side debate about socialized versus US healthcare systems.
“I feel really bad for parents who can't afford it and the babies put at unnecessary risk due to the US healthcare system.”
— OverEmploy142 -
the doctor being paid by the government for doing their job ≠ getting a commission for each vaccination like they are a salesperson. are you in the US? I don't think you understand how socialised healthcare works. I can't speak for the US as I don't live there, maybe that is how it works? which would be another reason the US system is bad.
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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I'm so glad we did it for our little guy when he was born last year, but it that wasn't covered by insurance and cost us $250+ out of pocket. I feel really bad for parents who can't afford it and the babies put at unnecessary risk due to the US healthcare system.
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University of Calgary details SPRINT-KIDS study results
The university's release, echoed by Medical Xpress, describes the JAMA Network Open study analyzing 2024-2025 RSV season data from seven pediatric hospitals in Ontario and Quebec, with lead researchers quantifying effectiveness against hospitalization and ICU admission.
“The results were dramatic. Nirsevimab effectiveness against hospitalizations was 79 per cent, and 97 per cent against ICU admissions.”
— Dr. Sarah Buchan -
first by University of Calgary, 9d ago · also Medical Xpress
1 more headline
- RSV immunization 97% effective against ICU admission in infants, study finds Medical Xpress · 9d ago
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Study reports 97% cut in infant RSV ICU admissions
Mirage News covers newly published findings on nirsevimab's real-world effectiveness against severe RSV in infants.
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1 outlet first by ca.news.yahoo.com, 7d ago · read ↗
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first by Mirage News, 9d ago
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