West Lincoln Memorial Hospital will be hosting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) clinics this fall in an effort to protect babies from severe illness.
Beyfortus is a long acting monoclonal antibody that provides passive immunity against RSV.
As of Monday, November 4, it will be available for all eligible babies including:
- Babies born during this year’s RSV season (October to March) can receive Beyfortus soon after birth, before going home from the hospital.
- Babies born within this calendar year (2024) can receive Beyfortus in one of the clinics located at McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) in Hamilton or West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby.
- Infants older than one year who have certain high-risk medical conditions may also be eligible to receive Beyfortus in the clinic located at MCH.
Those interested can call the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital clinic at 905-945-2253, ext. 11401. Leave a message and a member of the clinic staff will call back to schedule an appointment.
RSV is a common virus that can cause serious lung infections, especially in infants and young children. Most kids have mild symptoms, but some can get very sick with conditions like bronchiolitis or pneumonia which make it hard to breathe and could lead to a hospital admission.
“RSV is the most important cause of respiratory disease in newborns and infants and is directly responsible for how busy children’s hospitals and wards get in the winter,” said MCH infectious disease specialist Dr. Jeffrey Pernica.
“This is an unbelievable opportunity for all eligible children to get access to medicine that can very effectively prevent RSV.”
Earlier this month, MCH began administering Beyfortus to high-risk babies, making them some of the first in the province to receive it.
