Manitoba Expands RSV Program for Infants
The Manitoba government is expanding its RSV program to ensure all infants born during the respiratory season will receive one dose of nirsevimab. This is a monoclonal antibody that provides babies with five to six months of protection against severe illness from RSV.
What’s New
Right now, only newborns who meet certain high-risk eligibility criteria are able to receive nirsevimab, which only requires on dose. This respiratory season, all newborns born October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, will be eligible for vaccination. For high-risk infants and children outside of this newborn group, the Manitoba High-Risk RSV Prophylaxis Program will follow and provide doses.
Previously, Manitoba used palivizumab, which required multiple doses depending on when the child was born.
Why it Matters
Approximately five per cent of healthy infants and young children hospitalized with RSV require ICU admission, increasing to 10 per cent for those with other health conditions.
In Manitoba, RSV season typically runs from November to March and accounts for 10 to 20 per cent of respiratory tract infections in infants requiring medical attention.
Health care providers are encouraged to discuss the expanded eligibility criteria with expecting parents in advance of their expected delivery date to promote nirsevimab uptake.
At the Hospital
Infants born between October 1 and March 31 can receive a single dose of nirsevimab prior to discharge from hospital. If an infant does not receive a dose prior to discharge, parents can be directed to the following locations where providers can administer a dose:
- Local public health office or post-partum home visit by the public health nurse.
- A nursing station or health centre.
- Designated Walk-In Connected Care Clinics at Access Centres in Winnipeg. Call the clinic first to confirm availability.
Other High-Risk Patients
The Manitoba High-Risk Prophylaxis Program will be responsible for following and administering nirsevimab to patients who meet the high-risk criteria:
- Premature infants born < 33 weeks gestational age and born after April 1, 2025
- Children < 24 months of age as of October 1, 2025 with chronic lung disease due to prematurity (i.e. BPD) and who have received oxygen therapy recently.
- Children < 24 months of age as of October 1, 2025 with hemodynamically significant heart disease as assessed by paediatric cardiology. Referral should be made through Paediatric Cardiology
- Other children < 24 months of age as of October 1, 2025 may be considered on an individual basis.
Physicians can complete a request form if they have patients who meet this criteria.
- See this letter from the High-Risk program with more information.
Key Resources
Manitoba Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care offers the following resources for more information: