Alberta doctors urge province to offer free RSV shot to all newborns to cut health risks, hospital visits – CBC

Provincial government says cost-effectiveness analysis underway

Apr 16, 2026

Pediatricians are calling on the Alberta government to provide a preventative RSV shot for free to all newborns this fall, saying the move could spare many babies from getting very sick and reduce pressure on hospitals during the busy respiratory virus season.

Alberta began offering the antibody shot nirsevimab to certain high-risk infants (including premature babies and those admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit) during the 2025-26 season.

But the province stopped short of offering universal coverage, which is already in place in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

In a letter sent to Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange earlier this month, the Alberta Medical Association’s section of pediatrics urged the government to provide the preventative shot for free to all babies younger than six months old at the start of the RSV season and to all those born during the coming RSV season.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/free-rsv-shot-newborns-recommendation-9.7164894