FMWC Infant RSV Protection Collective
Dr. Shelley Ross (left) and Dr. Vivien Brown (right)
Co-chairs of the FMWC Maternal RSV Task Force
For the past three years, under the leadership of co-chairs, Dr. Vivien Brown and Dr. Shelley Ross, the FMWC has led initiatives to raise awareness, educate and advocate for universal infant RSV protection, for all infants in Canada, through an informed shared decision-making approach. With expert contributions from our Maternal RSV Task Force members (2024, 2025), our British Columbia and Alberta Infant RSV Advocacy Group (2026) and our most recent Infant RSV Protection Collective (2026), we have developed two white papers, a position statement and a primary care implementation brief with actionable recommendations to protect infants from RSV disease.
The recommendations serve as a call to action for healthcare providers, the public and policymakers to:
- Protect infants from RSV-associated morbidity and mortality
- Reduce the strain of RSV illness on Canadian healthcare systems and society
- Alleviate the psychological trauma families endure when caring for an infant with RSV
This work aims to inspire action and equip healthcare providers, pregnant women, pregnant people and parents with the knowledge required for informed, shared decision-making on how to best protect newborns from RSV disease.
The recommendations serve as a call to action for healthcare providers, the public and policymakers to:
- Protect infants from RSV-associated morbidity and mortality
- Reduce the strain of RSV illness on Canadian healthcare systems and society
- Alleviate the psychological trauma families endure when caring for an infant with RSV
This work aims to inspire action and equip healthcare providers, pregnant women, pregnant people and parents with the knowledge required for informed, shared decision-making on how to best protect newborns from RSV disease.
What do we recommend?
Education
to address knowledge gaps among healthcare providers about available options for infant protection from RSV disease
Communication
about the efficacy, safety, availability and benefits of immunizations to protect against RSV disease in infants
Awareness
among healthcare providers, pregnant women and pregnant people, the public and policymakers about the burden of RSV disease in infants and the available protective options
Informed, Shared Decision-Making
Our recommendations call for clear and consistent educational messaging for providers and their patients to allow for informed, shared decision-making so each pregnant woman and pregnant person is empowered to make the best choice to protect their baby from RSV disease.
Take Action Now to protect infants this RSV season!
Trusted pregnancy care providers should dispel misinformation, explain benefits and risks, and inform and empower patients for shared decision-making.
We need to act now to educate, communicate, and increase awareness on the available choices to protect infants from RSV disease this RSV season.
Informed, Shared Decision-Making
Our recommendations call for clear and consistent educational messaging for providers and their patients to allow for informed, shared decision-making so each pregnant woman and pregnant person is empowered to make the best choice to protect their baby from RSV disease.
Take Action Now to protect infants this RSV season!
- Trusted pregnancy care providers should dispel misinformation, explain benefits and risks, and inform and empower patients for shared decision-making.
We need to we act now to educate, communicate and increase awareness on the available choices to protect infants from RSV disease this RSV season.