What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)?
RSV is a common respiratory virus that can cause serious illness in infants and some young children.
In Ontario, there are two options available to help protect infants from severe RSV disease:
- Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody given to infants and some high-risk children
- Abrysvo, an RSV vaccine that can be given during pregnancy to help protect infants
Both are safe and effective options, and real-world studies have shown substantial reductions in RSV-related hospitalizations among infants.
Explore the resources below to learn about RSV and available prevention options.
PCMCH RSV Fact Sheets
PCMCH is pleased to share fact sheets to support parents, caregivers, expectant parents, and healthcare providers with information about RSV and available prevention options. These resources align with Ontario’s RSV prevention program for the current 2026/2027 RSV season.
For Parents and Expectant Parents
Protecting Your Child from RSV (English | French (Français) | Simplified Chinese (简体中文) | Traditional Chinese (繁體中文) | Arabic (عربى) | Italian (Italiano) | Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) | Spanish (Español))
This fact sheet helps parents and expectant parents learn:
- what RSV is and why it can be serious for infants;
- available options to help protect their baby from RSV; and
- questions they may wish to discuss with their healthcare provider.
Providers are encouraged to share this resource with patients and families.
For Indigenous Families and Caregivers
Protecting Your Child from RSV (English | French (Français) | Cree | Inuktitut | Ojibway | Mohawk)
Developed in partnership with the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC), this fact sheet provides culturally relevant information for Indigenous parents, families and caregivers in Ontario.
For Healthcare Providers
Protecting Infants and High-Risk Children During RSV (English | French (Français))
This resource summarizes Ontario’s RSV prevention program, available prevention options, real-world effectiveness data, and key information to support discussions with families.
A poster for healthcare spaces with QR codes linking directly to the parent fact sheets in multiple languages is also available for download.
Additional Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Resources
Additional resources from trusted health organizations are available below for parents, families and healthcare providers seeking more information about RSV and available prevention options.
- RSV Prevention Program (Ministry of Health)
This webpage provides information and resources to parents and caregivers on the infant and high-risk children prevention program in Ontario. - RSV Information Hub (Praxus Health)
This hub offers trusted resources from healthcare providers, answers to common questions, and guidance to help you understand the risks of RSV and explore options to help protect your family. - RSV Hub (Our Kids Health)
This hub provides updates on protecting your baby from RSV, with information about what families need to know. It includes posts, videos and handouts in multiple languages. - Immunization and RSV Videos (Immunize Canada)
This YouTube channel hosts videos (in English and French) featuring healthcare providers and parents talking about protecting infants from RSV. - RSV Vaccine (Vaccines in Pregnancy Canada)
This website provides information about the options available to protect you and your baby from RSV. - Learn about RSV (CANImmunize)
This webpage includes information and a quiz about RSV. CANImmunize is a digital tool for Canadians to securely store your vaccination records and help you get vaccinated on time.
- RSV Prevention Program (Ministry of Health)
This webpage provides information and resources to guide healthcare providers on the expanded infant and high-risk children RSV prevention program in Ontario. - Supplementary Clinical Guidance for Health Care Providers (Provincial RSV Advisory Group)
Designed to answer frequently asked questions and support best practices in the implementation of Ontario’s Infant and High-Risk Children RSV Prevention Program, complementing the Ontario MOH guidance. - Statement on Updated Guidance to Protect Infants and Children from RSV Disease (NACI, PHAC)
This summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) statement of April 10, 2026, provides an overview of the updated guidance on the prevention of RSV disease in infants and children using monoclonal antibodies (nirsevimab and clesrovimab) and the RSVpreF vaccine. - Research in Action: RSV Immunization Shows Strong Protection for Infants (Public Health Ontario, SPRINT-KIDS Project)
This summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) statement of April 10, 2026, provides an overview of the updated guidance on the prevention of RSV disease in infants and children using monoclonal antibodies (nirsevimab and clesrovimab) and the RSVpreF vaccine. - Infant RSV Prevention Program Infographic (BORN Ontario)
This infographic highlights RSV immunization uptake and protection data from Ontario’s infant RSV prevention program and summarizes key evidence on RSV prevention for infants. - 2025-2026 RSV Prevention Program for infants in Ontario (Centre for Effective Practice)
This tool supports primary care clinicians with navigating Ontario’s expanded RSV Prevention Program, information about Beyfortus (nirsevimab) and its administration, and the role of primary care in RSV prevention. - RSV Information Hub (Praxus Health)
This information hub for healthcare providers summarizes RSV information at the national and provincial/territorial levels to support informed decision-making conversations around RSV protection with your patients. - RSV Vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide (Public Health Agency of Canada)
This guide provides key information related to epidemiology of RSV, immunization options to protect infants and more.
Thank you to Tali Bogler, ‘Remi Ejiwunmi, Bosco Paes, Darine El-Chaâr, Jane Healey, Tiffany Fitzpatrick, Teresa Bruni, Paul Roumeliotis and Prakesh Shah for their invaluable input and expertise in shaping PCMCH’s RSV fact sheets, and to the parents with lived experience whose perspectives were essential in ensuring the content is meaningful and relevant.
Note that the information provided on this page is not intended to take the place of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact your healthcare provider to speak about how best to protect yourself, your family and your community from respiratory illnesses. You can also call 811 to connect to health care support 24/7, where you can receive secure and confidential health advice.
For information about respiratory viruses and immunizations other than RSV, please visit our Respiratory Viruses and Immunizations page.
