We must act now to protect Canadians living with chronic lung diseases

September 25th marks World Lung Day, an opportune moment to reflect on the progress, or lack thereof, that federal and provincial governments have made in safeguarding the health of Canadians living with a chronic lung disease. 

The one in five Canadians who have asthma, COPD, pulmonary hypertension or other lung conditions face a heightened risk of serious health complications due to respiratory illness like RSV and pneumococcal disease, yet they do not have guaranteed access to vital respiratory vaccines. For instance, RSV and pneumococcal disease vaccines are not publicly funded for adults under 65 in Canada. 

Consequently, vaccine uptake among Canadians living with chronic lung diseases is critically low, driven by inconsistent provincial eligibility criteria, a deficit in systemic coverage, a lack of public awareness, and a failure to identify high-risk individuals. 

Awareness and access gaps persist

More than one in five respondents to Asthma Canada’s National Vaccine Awareness Survey said they've skipped vaccines for these illnesses because of cost. Additionally, recent stories have highlighted financial barriers and concerns about uneven eligibility for shingles, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines.

The problem is compounded by low uptake of respiratory vaccines among the general population, which is putting this already vulnerable group at an even higher risk of life-threatening respiratory infections. According to Health Canada’s Seasonal Respiratory Vaccination Coverage Survey only 34% of Canadians were vaccinated against influenza last year. The numbers were even lower for COVID-19 and RSV. And according to the Canadian Health Institute for Health Information (CIHI), the number of hospitalizations for pneumonia in 2024-2025 increased from the previous year across all provinces and territories, as well as across all age groups. 

Making vaccines for high-risk groups a priority on Canada’s national health agenda

Since 2018, Asthma Canada and the Canadian Lung Association, along with members of the Lung Vaccination Working Group (LVWG), have been working to increase awareness of the importance of vaccines and increase rates of immunization among adults affected by respiratory diseases. 

This important advocacy work is becoming more urgent against a backdrop of distrust in public health measures, a rise in vaccine hesitancy, and an overburdened health system. 

Expanding vaccine access is a high-profile and top-of-mind public health issue, and Canada has the opportunity to commit to safeguarding the long-term health of millions of Canadians living with chronic lung diseases. 

To do this, the LVWG has urged the federal government to invest in a funding mechanism to support provinces and territories in expanding public coverage of recommended respiratory vaccines for high-risk adults living with chronic lung diseases. 

With Canada consistently falling short on its national vaccination targets, it’s critical that we institute a dedicated reporting infrastructure to track adult vaccine rates. Collecting this data will improve visibility on uptake and help align national targets with disease-specific risk profiles. Doing this will better protect Canadians living with chronic lung conditions and help reduce preventable acute care use that strains health care systems and hinders workforce productivity, including absenteeism and long-term disability. 

The federal government should also take measures to address the myriad barriers to vaccination. This includes investing in initiatives like mobile respiratory vaccination clinics and dedicating funding to tackling misinformation, vaccine fatigue, systemic health inequities, and geographic challenges. Importantly, this would also entail galvanizing community organizations, patient groups, and health charities to deliver public education tailored to equity-deserving populations disproportionately affected by lung conditions. 

Canada can act now to address this mounting public health issue and become a leader in improving vaccination rates for the betterment of Canadians living with chronic lung conditions, and for the entire country.

Jeffrey Beach is the President & CEO of Asthma Canada. A longtime leader in Canada's health charity and community care sectors, Jeffrey works to advance patient-centred policies and improve outcomes for Canadians living with asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Sarah Butson is the CEO of the Canadian Lung Association where she champions the cause of lung health, from prevention and care to ground-breaking research and discovery.

The views expressed are those of the author(s). Canada Healthwatch publishes a range of perspectives and does not necessarily endorse the opinions presented.