Health News For South West
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Children's Hospital London Health Sciences Centre
Children’s Hospital at LHSC Expands Eligibility Criteria for New RSV Immunization Clinic
The clinic is now open to all infants born on or after January 1, 2024.
Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has expanded the eligibility criteria for its new RSV Immunization Clinic.
Effective immediately, all infants born on or after January 1, 2024, are eligible to receive their immunization at the twice-weekly clinic. The clinic was previously only open to patients who did not have a primary care provider in the community.
"We're thrilled to have the capacity and supply required to immunize an even larger number of infants in our clinic,” says Erin Fleischer, the nurse practitioner who oversees the program. “While we always encourage primary care providers as a patient’s first point of contact, parents are now able to bring their little ones straight to us if they’d like them immunized for RSV. No referral is required.”
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that can cause cold-like symptoms or severe – sometimes life-threatening – lung infections, especially in infants and older adults. Each fall and winter, it’s responsible for a surge in emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations, alongside influenza and COVID-19.
The immunization, Nirsevimab, is a long-acting monoclonal antibody that provides immediate passive immunity against RSV infection. While immunization does not stop a child from getting an RSV infection, it has been shown to reduce the chance of serious illness and the need for hospitalization by 80 per cent. The Ontario Ministry of Health began covering its cost for all eligible patients who live in Ontario this fall.
Children’s Hospital’s RSV Immunization Clinic runs on Mondays from 4pm to 7pm and Fridays from 1pm to 3:30pm in the Paediatric Medical Day Unit (PMDU). To book an appointment, please call 519-685-8500 ext 50071 and leave a message with your child’s name and date of birth.
Media Contact:
Jess Brady
Communications Consultant
London Health Sciences Centre
226-927-7486
jess.brady@lhsc.on.ca
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