Helping to Guide Canada’s Epidemic Response

The COVID-19
Immunity Task Force

The Government of Canada launched the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) in late April 2020 to track the spread of the virus in both the general population and priority populations in Canada. The Task Force also aims to shed light on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in a diversity of communities, age brackets, populations, and occupational groups across the nation. To generate this information, the Task Force is drawing on experts from universities and hospitals across Canada, working closely with provincial and territorial public health officials, and engaging communities/stakeholders from inception through to dissemination of findings.

Understanding is Key

We are bringing together top health experts and scientists from leading institutions across the country. Canada’s best and brightest will be working on serology testing, blood testing to track and understand immunity to COVID-19. They’ll be looking at key questions like how many people beyond those we’ve already tested have had COVID-19, whether you’re immune once you’ve had it, and if so, how long that lasts. Over two years, we will be testing at least a million Canadians as a part of this study. … The better we understand this virus, its spread and its impact on different people, the better we can fight it and eventually defeat it.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, April 23, 2020

The COVID-19
Immunity Task Force