The Chief Medical Officer of Health in Nova Scotia has expanded eligibility for publicly funded RSV immunization to adults 75+, infants under 8 months entering their first RSV season, and high-risk infants under 2. Starting this Fall, these groups can receive the vaccine or monoclonal antibodies free of charge with a valid NS health card. In this episode, PANS’ Suzanne Richards catches up with Dr. Tasha Ramsey, the Nova Scotia Health (NSH) Clinical Therapeutics and Prophylactics Lead for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infections, to discuss the program update and the vaccine. They will discuss who is eligible for the immunization agents, why preventing RSV in certain demographics is important, and review the recommendations for pregnant individuals & infants. Tasha will explain where eligible patients can access the publicly funded supply and which patients age 2-74 may still benefit from the non-funded supply.

For questions about the RSV vaccine please contact: NSH Vaccine Consult Service: 1-833-768-1151 or COVIDVaccineConsult@nshealth.ca

Dr. Tasha Ramsey is the Nova Scotia Health Clinical Therapeutics and Prophylactics Lead for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infections and an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University’s College of Pharmacy. She is a member of the Emerging and Re-emerging Infections Network, the co-chair of the Nova Scotia Emerging and Re-emerging Infections Therapeutics and Prophylactics Recommendation Group, and the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists representative for Immunize Canada. Tasha’s declarations and conflict(s) of interest include the following: Recipient of funds from PEBC, has been a paid speaker for PANS, CSHP, Dal CPE and in the last five years was an employee for NS Health and Dalhousie University.

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