October 18, 2022, from 2:30-4:00 p.m. EDT

The COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) supports research projects looking at various aspects of COVID-19 infection and immunity in older Canadians. Our 10th Research Results and Implications seminar will assemble several CITF-funded researchers to update us on their latest findings and answer questions such as:

  • How important are boosters for those aged 70+?
  • Should older Canadians be masking, distancing, and limiting their social interactions indoors?
  • Is the risk of getting COVID-19 higher if you’re living in a long-term care (LTC) home, or, if you’re 70+ living in the community?
  • Will infection prevention and control measures implemented in LTC homes due to COVID-19 have a long-term positive impact in warding off other infections in these settings?
  • Is it safe to put your loved ones in LTC homes these days in Canada?

Presentations from several CITF-funded studies will be followed by a panel discussion. Presenters will then take questions from the audience.


Moderator

Samir Sinha, MD, DPhil, FRCPC
Director of Geriatrics, Mount Sinai and University Health Network Hospitals, Toronto; Provincial Lead, Ontario’s Seniors Strategy; Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto; Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Confirmed panelists

Zabrina Brumme, PhD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University; Director of Laboratories, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS; CITF-funded researcher

Andrew Costa, PhD
Schlegel Research Chair in Clinical Epidemiology & Aging and Associate Professor, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University; Scientific Director, St. Joseph’s Centre for Integrated Care, Hamilton; CITF-funded researcher

Timothy Evans, MD, PHD
Executive Director, COVID-19 Immunity Task Force

Allison McGeer

Allison McGeer, MSC, MD, FRCPC
Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, and Senior Clinician Scientist and Infectious Disease Physician, Sinai Health System, Toronto; CITF-funded researcher

Sharon Walmsley

Sharon Walmsley, MSc, MD, FRCPC
Senior Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute; Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto; CITF-funded researcher

Manish Sadarangani, BM, BCH, DPHIL
Director, Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute; Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, UBC; Physician Lead, Family Immunization Clinic, BC Children’s Hospital; CITF-funded researcher