Nova Scotia RSV Vaccine Eligibility Sparks Outcry Over Cost Barriers
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Patients and advocates warn that strict criteria for free respiratory syncytial virus shots create a two-tiered system for vulnerable seniors.
As CBC News first reported, Nova Scotia's publicly funded RSV vaccination program is facing criticism for excluding high-risk adults who do not fit into three specific eligibility categories: infants under eight months, adults 75 and older, and adults 60 and older who are in or awaiting long-term care.
According to CBC News, this gap leaves immunocompromised seniors and those with chronic conditions to pay out-of-pocket. Two Halifax-area pharmacies told CBC News that the cost of the vaccine, including the injection fee, exceeds $320. For some, this cost is prohibitive. Lisa MacPherson, 62, who has asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stated she cannot afford the shot despite a previous hospitalization for RSV.
Other patients, such as 72-year-old Gregg Lambert—who has lung cancer and was hospitalized for two weeks due to RSV—are ineligible for free coverage despite medical recommendations. His partner, Mary Pyche, 68, noted that while the province covers COVID-19 and flu vaccines, RSV protection is treated differently, and private insurance has not covered the cost for them.
Data from the province's respiratory watch dashboard indicates that approximately 400 people have been hospitalized and 17 people have died from RSV infections over the last year, all of whom were over the age of 65.
The Department of Health and Wellness stated that its programs are based on expert advice and disease burden, noting the highest hospitalization rates are among those 75 and older or in long-term care. The department added that it is currently reviewing updated guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, which recommends vaccines for adults 65 to 74 with high-risk chronic conditions, though no decision has been made.