Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV symptoms usually happen within four to six days after getting infected and are similar to cold, flu or COVID-19, including:

• Runny nose
• Decrease in appetite
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing

Very young infants may only experience irritability, decreased activity, and breathing problems.

While most RSV symptoms will go away within a week, individuals should seek medical attention if they are not drinking enough fluids or experience worsening symptoms.

Anyone who has trouble breathing should seek immediate medical attention.

How to manage symptoms at home:

• Reduce fever and pain with over-the-counter reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to children
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids)
• Consult with a health care provider before giving your child over-the-counter cough and cold medicines

For additional information for parents on how to manage their child’s symptoms and when to seek medical attention, visit the Ministry of Health’s Respiratory Syncytial Virus web page.

If you have questions about your illness and you don’t start to feel better after a few days, or your symptoms get worse, call your health care provider or 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) to talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calls to 811 do not require you to provide your OHIP number; all information is free, secure, and confidential.

Treatment

Most people who get RSV recover on their own. RSV is a virus and antibiotics will not help. Antiviral medication is not routinely recommended to fight a RSV infection. However, RSV can cause severe illness in some people and medical attention and supportive treatment may be needed.

RSV spreads easily from person to person through coughing or sneezing. The virus can also spread by touching a surface or object (a door handle or countertop) that has the virus on it and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes before washing hands.

People infected with RSV are usually contagious for three to eight days and may be contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of being sick. However, some infants and people with weakened immune systems can continue to spread the virus even after their symptoms have resolved, for as long as four weeks.

You can help stop the spread of RSV by: 

• Staying home if you feel sick
• Cleaning your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
• Covering your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your shirt sleeve, not your hands
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices
• Getting an RSV vaccine if you are eligible (the following sections contain more details)

Beyfortus® is a safe, long-acting preventive treatment that helps protect infants and young children from severe RSV outcomes, including hospitalization and ICU admission. It is recommended for:

• Infants up to 8 months old during their first RSV season
• Children up to 24 months who are at increased risk

Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends the use of Beyfortus® for infants, as it offers stronger and longer-lasting protection than vaccination during pregnancy.

Check out this easy-to-read fact sheet for parents, expectant parents, and caregivers

Pregnant individuals who do not wish or are unable to have their infant receive Beyfortus® at birth may choose to receive a single dose of the RSV vaccine Abrysvo™ between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. This helps protect the baby from RSV from birth until six months old. It is given near the start of or during the RSV season.

If the RSV vaccine was administered during pregnancy, the infant generally will not need Beyfortus® at birth, except in certain situations. Please speak to a health care provider to determine what’s best for you and your baby.

Arexvy and Abrysvo are both Health Canada approved vaccines to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in people 60 and older. They are given as a single vaccine dose that provides multi-year protection.

The Ontario Ministry of Health is offering a publicly funded vaccination program in the 2025-2026 fall season for individuals 60 and older who are:

• (NEW) All individuals aged 75 and older
• Individuals 60 to 74 years of age who are also:
  • Residents of long-term care homes, Elder Care Lodges, or retirement homes including similar settings (e.g., co-located facilities)
  • Patients in hospital receiving alternate level of care (ALC) including similar settings (for example, complex continuing care, hospital transitional programs)
  • Patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) who are moderately to severely immunocompromised
  • Patients receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
  • Recipients of solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants
  • Individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Individuals who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis

Anyone aged 60 years or older not eligible for the publicly funded vaccine can speak to their health care provider about accessing the RSV vaccine through private purchase.

Individuals who received an RSV vaccine last season are still protected and will not need an additional dose this fall.

Infants:

• Hospitals
• Some doctor or nurse practitioner's offices*
• Some walk-in medical clinics*

Older Adults:

• Some doctor or nurse practitioner's offices*
• Some walk-in medical clinics*
• Long Term Care & Retirement Facilities
• York Region Public Health Clinics (limited appointments available)

*Before visiting, check if they are offering vaccines and if an appointment is required.
 

RSV vaccinations may cause some side effects which, in most cases, are mild and last only a few days. Common side effects of RSV vaccination may include:

• Pain, redness, and swelling where the needle was given
• Fatigue (feeling tired)
• Fever or chills
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain

Swelling of lymph nodes and allergic reactions such as rash, nausea, or stomach pain are uncommon. Serious side effects from the vaccine are rare.

Please inform your health care professional or call York Region Public Health at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73452 if you experience a serious side effect following immunization.

Speak to your Health Care Provider

Always tell your health care provider if you have allergies or had side effects from another vaccine in the past. You should wait for the vaccine if you are ill or have a fever. Check with your health care provider to determine if the RSV vaccine is right for you.

Health care providers can now order RSV vaccines for eligible clients 60 years and older through York Region Public Health. RSV vaccine information for health care providers is available at york.ca/VaccineInventory