Raising awareness of RSV as part of your vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in Canada

Canada’s ageing population is expected to increase by 68%, posing new healthcare challenges alongside a rise in noncommunicable diseases. Older adults and those with chronic conditions face heightened risks from vaccine preventable respiratory diseases (VPRDs) like RSV, which annually causes millions of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths globally. Despite Health Canada approving an RSV vaccine for adults aged 60 and older, awareness and vaccination efforts for RSV remain insufficient. As health systems recover from COVID-19, the need for awareness and advocacy by NGOs, CSOs and professional organizations representing older adults is crucial. The ‘Raising awareness of RSV as part of your vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in Canada’ project aims to educate high-risk adult populations about the seriousness of RSV and to improve understanding and mobilize action amongst organizations that represent these populations.

Interactive Dialogue | Raising awareness of RSV as part of your VPRDs in Canada

This interactive dialogue, hosted by the IFA for “Raising awareness of RSV as part of your vaccine preventable respiratory diseases in Canada” aims to bring awareness and improve understanding of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as a serious life-threatening vaccine preventable disease across organizations that represent high-risk adult populations, ultimately supporting awareness of vaccination as a key prevention strategy for RSV.

The Speakers

Dr. Rita Dhami
Chief Pharmacy Officer at Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists

Dr. Rita Dhami is a passionate hospital pharmacist with pharmacy practice and leadership experience in hospital, community and academic roles. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at University of Toronto and a Doctor of Pharmacy at University of Florida. She is a consummate pharmacist having spent 19 years in hospital pharmacy with London Health Sciences Centre with nearly a decade as the Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infectious Diseases Pharmacist. She holds longstanding teaching appointments with the University of Waterloo, School of Pharmacy and Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University. In her current role, she is the Chief Pharmacy Officer for the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists where she represents the voice of pharmacy professionals who work in institutional healthcare settings like hospitals, ambulatory clinics and long-term care.

Mr. Arushan Arulnamby
Policy Analyst, National Institute on Ageing

Arushan Arulnamby is a Policy Analyst for Canada’s National Institute on Ageing (NIA). He leads the development of NIA’s policy papers and initiatives surrounding vaccine-preventable diseases among older Canadians. He has experience developing evidence-informed policy and practice approaches to guide health authorities and organizations to better support vaccination efforts. He also takes part in advocacy work and the development of public resources surrounding adult vaccines.

Arushan Arulnamby completed the Master of Public Health program from the University of Toronto, with a double specialization in ageing and global health.

Objectives

Increase awareness and understanding of RSV: Enhance public and professional awareness regarding RSV as a significant, life-threatening vaccine-preventable respiratory disease especially among older adults and those with chronic conditions.
Promote Vaccination: Advocate for the importance and accessibility of RSV vaccination for older and at-risk adults across Canada, aiming to reduce morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs and burden associated with RSV infections.
Influence Policy and Practice: Gather insights and consensus from leading non-profit organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and patient and professional organizations to influence policy development and healthcare practices on RSV prevention.

Resources

Enhance your organization’s awareness and advocacy efforts to address RSV amongst the older Canadian population and promote vaccine uptake initiatives by exploring these resources.

Click on the image below to download the full Consensus Statement.

Click here to download the Press Release

Download the Fact Sheet

References

Download the Infographic

References

Have you heard Health Canada has approved a new vaccine for RSV? As Canada’s population in rapidly ageing, it is important to prioritize vaccination and understand the importance of vaccine preventable respiratory diseases (VPRDs).

IFA invites you to take part in a national survey aimed at assessing awareness of RSV!

Survey link : https://ow.ly/FCvJ50SqXRu