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NB Newborns Get Free RSV Protection
1 Oct
Summary
- New Brunswick offers free RSV immunization to all newborns.
- Program covers babies born between April 2026 and March 2027.
- RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization.
New Brunswick is implementing a new initiative to offer free respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization to all newborns in the province. This program will cover infants born between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027.
Babies born during the early part of this period, from April 1 to October 12, 2026, can receive the immunization through their primary care providers or at regional public health clinics. For those born between October 13, 2026, and March 31, 2027, immunization can be administered before hospital discharge or via clinics and care providers.
Health Minister John Dornan emphasized the potential seriousness of RSV for infants and highlighted that making this immunization universally available will reduce pressure on the health system. Dr. Ariadna Grigoriu, medical director of the New Brunswick Perinatal Health Program, noted that RSV is the number one cause of hospitalization for infants in their first year of life. She described the universal vaccination as a significant advancement that will alleviate illness and hospitalizations, offering peace of mind to families.
