Geographic & Priority Populations

Deborah Money

The Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes (CANCOVID-Preg)

Deborah Money, University of British Columbia

The CITF is funding the next phase of this project wherein surveillance data will be used to determine the incidence and severity of adverse maternal and infant outcomes during different stages of the pandemic. Results will inform the evolving impact that variants have on both vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant people and help dispel myths, among other objectives.
Research summary Results

Sonia Anand
Scott Lear
Sonia Anand
Scott Lear

Investigating vaccine access, immunogenicity, effectiveness, and safety among South Asians in Ontario and British Columbia

Sonia Anand and Scott Lear, McMaster University

Canadian South Asian communities are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country. They are also among the highest at-risk populations in Canada for COVID-19. Our study involves an interdisciplinary team of experts and includes 3,000 participants from South Asian communities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA).
Research summary Results

Toward enhancing COVID-19 vaccine confidence among African Canadians: Sustainability of immune responses and safety profiles

Upton Allen, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Research Institute

Data on COVID-19 suggests that Black Canadians are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 with higher percentages of cases and severe outcomes than the population at large. This study is looking at the immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines among this group and how long that immunity lasts.
Research summary

Jack Jedwab
Jack Jedwab

COVID-19 risk and immunity in Montreal North: A population-based study

Jack Jedwab and Simona Bignami, Association for Canadian Studies

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Montreal North has had one of the highest per capita rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the city and a lower-than-average vaccination rate. The researchers aim to determine the factors that have put residents at heightened risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, the extent to which they have been infected, and evaluate vaccine uptake.
Research summary Results

Deshayne Fell

COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: A province-wide epidemiological assessment of safety and effectiveness using the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario Registry

Deshayne Fell, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute

This study seeks to assess the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant individuals by evaluating mother and baby health outcomes. Researchers are using an existing province-wide maternal-newborn registry in Ontario called the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) and are combining the information collected with data from the Ontario Ministry of Health vaccination registry.
Research summary Results

Brittany Barker
Brittany Barker

Evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines among underserved urban populations with intersecting risk factors for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality: a pooled analysis of three prospective cohort studies in Vancouver, Canada

Hudson Reddon and Brittany Barker, University of British Columbia

Urban centres are home to people from vulnerable populations (those suffering from homelessness, living in group settings, high-intensity substance use and having other infectious diseases such as HIV) who have increased risk factors for catching SARS-CoV-2 and developing serious cases of COVID-19. In this study, researchers are evaluating the uptake, safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in these groups.
Research summary Results

Deborah Money

Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Registry for Pregnant and Lactating Individuals (COVERED): An evaluation of safety, effectiveness, and acceptability

Deborah Money, University of British Columbia

Pregnant individuals are at higher risk for COVID-19 complications. Recent real-world evidence shows mRNA vaccines seem safe during pregnancy. Little data is available though, so researchers are studying the safety and effectiveness of vaccines in pregnant and breastfeeding individuals and creating a COVID-19 vaccine registry to better inform future guidance on vaccine usage in this group.
Research summary Results Study website

COVID-19 antibodies among high-risk populations in Canada (SUrveying Prospective Population cOhorts for COVID19 pRevalence and ouTcomes in Canada (SUPPORT-Canada) – Phase 2)

Philip Awadalla, Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath)

The study’s first phase included tens of thousands of Canadians in high-risk groups and identified health and risk factor information, COVID-19 testing and vaccination information. Phase two seeks to evaluate participants’ immune responses to various vaccine regimens over time, as well as immune responses and vaccine effectiveness in immunocompromised or immunosuppressed participants.
Research summary Study website

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among African Canadians: Clinical and Epidemiological Correlates

Upton Allen, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Research Institute

In this study, researchers will follow people of African ancestry in Ontario to determine how many have had COVID-19 and to establish the risk factors associated with getting the infection as well as having poor outcomes, including hospitalization and death.
Research summary Results

Action to beat Coronavirus in Canada (Ab‐C Study)

Prabhat Jha, Unity Health Toronto

Using dried blood spot (DBS) samples from about 10,000 randomly selected adults from across Canada taken at two separate intervals, the Action to Beat Coronavirus (Ab-C Study) aims to increase understanding of the durability of immunity against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.
Research summary Results

THE Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi STUDY: HOMELESSNESS AND COVID-19 (formerly COVENANT Study)

Stephen Hwang, Unity Health Toronto

The Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi Study is gathering in-depth information on COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, which has Canada’s largest homeless population.
Research summary Results Study website View study on

Accelerating SARS-CoV-2 SEroprevalence SurveyS Through Dried Blood Spots (COVID-19 ASSESS-DBS study)

Muhammad Morshed and Sofia Bartlett, BC Center for Disease Control

This study of 10 British Columbia correctional facilities is looking at blood samples from incarcerated individuals for COVID-19 antibodies to determine the prevalence of infection and help guide COVID-19 vaccine follow-up.
Research summary Results View study on

Serologic prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among provincial prison inmates in Quebec (SPIQ)

Nadine Kronfli, McGill University Health Centre

This study aims to determine previous exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus among incarcerated individuals and correctional staff in three provincial facilities, and contribute to a better understanding of immunity, transmission and burden of COVID-19 among these groups.
Research summary Results View study on

SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in federal and provincial correctional services in Canada

Michael Martin, Corrections Canada

This study has two aims: to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among people incarcerated at Correctional Service Canada (CSC) institutions, as well as staff; and to describe how incarcerated individuals’ antibodies change over time and how this might differ between subgroups (e.g. race, gender, chronic disease status, vaccine status).
Research summary View study on

The serologic prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 amongst incarcerated persons in provincial correctional facilities in Saskatchewan

Alexander Wong, University of Saskatechewan

This study aim is to measure the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among incarcerated individuals in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Research summary View study on

Determinants of Community COVID-19 Transmission: Learning from the Hutterites 

Mark Loeb, McMaster University

This study investigates the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination interrupts transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within communities. The research team is following Hutterite colony members in three provinces for 18 months to understand the levels of COVID-19 vaccination required to achieve protection and assessing the impact of the various vaccines that have been administered.
Research summary

COVID-19 in the Orthodox Jewish Community of Montreal: A mixed-methods study of immunity integrating anthropology, epidemiology and immunology

Peter Nugus, and Fernanda Claudio, McGill University

This study uses a mixed-method approach in partnership with the Orthodox Jewish community in the Montreal area, a group that has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The goals are to investigate the relationship between beliefs, behaviours, and immunity with respect to COVID-19, better understand immunity to SARS-CoV-2, and protect families during future outbreaks.
Research summary Results

Indigenous

Sonia Anand

Vaccine Access, Uptake, Effectiveness and Safety in First Nations Communities

Sonia Savitri Anand, McMaster University

Researchers are partnering with three First Nations communities—Six Nations of Grand River, Ontario; Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Saskatchewan; and Wendake, Quebec—to collect, analyze, and report new data related to COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and safety in these communities. They will also evaluate access to, level of trust, and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, among other goals.
Research summary Study website

Martin Cooke

What impacts COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Métis Citizens in Ontario? A population-based data linkage study

Martin Cooke University of Waterloo

As COVID-19 vaccines have rolled out across Canada, there has been a high level of vaccine hesitancy in minority populations including Métis. This study will identify factors that impact COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Ontario Métis to, along with consultations with Métis Nation of Ontario citizens and leadership, inform efforts needed to ensure optimal uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the Métis.
Research summary

Sangita Sharma

Assessing the impact of the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in Indigenous populations in Arctic Canada

Sangita Sharma, University of Alberta

This project partners with Indigenous organizations and leaders, Elders, and the Government of Northwest Territories throughout every stage. The goal is to collect information from Indigenous Peoples about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for Indigenous Peoples in NWT communities, which can be used to inform policy and the development of programs and services.
Research summary

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council COVID-19 Vaccine Study into Immune Response, Effectiveness, Safety

Lynnette Lucas and Jeff Reading, Simon Fraser University

The goal of this study is to determine the extent to which Nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth, NCN) community members (one of the Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific coast of Canada), including children, teens, healthy adults, people living with chronic health conditions and elders, are protected by COVID-19 vaccines, how this protection changes over time, and the extent of negative side effects of the vaccines. This will support current and future planning of health services and programs.
Research summary

2SLBGTQ+ Studies

Engage-COVID-19: A mixed methods study of biomedical, behavioural, and psychosocial aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Canada 

Daniel Grace, University of Toronto

The study explores the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic on gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM), including how COVID-19 is impacting mental health outcomes, experiences of loneliness, sexual behaviours, substance use patterns, and access to essential health care.
Research summary Results Study website View study on

The COVID-19 Pandemic Among Sexual and Gender Marginalized Populations in Canada: Physical Distancing Impacts, SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence, and Health and Wellness Needs 

Nathan Lachowsky, University of Victoria

Researchers are conducting an online survey of 2SLGBTQQI+ people across Canada to determine how COVID-19 impacts them. Participants may also provide blood to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
Research summary Results