Ontario techs can now administer RSV vaccines

As of December 12, registered pharmacy technicians in Ontario are authorized to administer the vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) to patients five years of age and older.“These regulations recognize that Ontario’s healthcare system continues to see additional pressures that are impacting patient access to care,” the Ontario College of Pharmacists said in a December 2023 announcement. “By expanding the scope of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to administer an additional vaccine and offer appropriate treatment options for COVID-19 and influenza, patients will have improved access to care during the respiratory illness season.” (Health Canada approved the first RSV vaccine for adults aged 60 and over in August 2023.)In October 2023, Dr. Sherilyn Houle, associate professor of the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, presented a webinar titled “Identifying, Preventing, and Managing RSV in Pharmacy Practice: A Case-Based Approach” that is available as an audio recording and slide deck on the Canadian Pharmacists Association website at Practice Development Webinars—English (pharmacists.ca).Read: Taking the fear out of pharmacy assessmentsShe noted in her presentation that figures from the U.S. showed that 35% of children under five years of age who were hospitalized for an acute respiratory illness tested positive for RSV. Among high-risk adults 18-64 and adults older than 65, RSV contributes to 11.4% of COPD hospitalizations (5,800 a year in Canada), 10.6% of pneumonia hospitalizations (3,600 a year in Canada), 7.2% of asthma hospitalizations (860 a year in Canada), and 5.4% of heart failure hospitalizations (3,600 a year in Canada). “Taken together, it’s a very significant strain on our health system,” said Houle.RSV transmission occurs from respiratory particles containing the virus and from contact with contaminated surfaces, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. A person is infectious for about eight days on average, with a range of 1 to 21 days. The virus can survive on hands for an hour and surfaces for three to 30 hours, said Houle. Read: Please help me help my patientsCommon clinical presentations can include:rhinorrheacoughingsneezingwheezingpharyngitisbronchiolitisheadachefatiguefeverAs with other respiratory illnesses like influenza and COVID-19, the best way to prevent RSV transmission is cleaning of high-contact items, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, masking, staying home when ill, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

Ontario techs can now administer RSV vaccines

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