New study investigates immune response and vaccine hesitancy among First Nations communities
The COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) and the Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG) are supporting a new study that will work with three First Nations communities to investigate vaccine hesitancy, the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine and health outcomes after vaccination within those communities. As of November 9, 2021, according to Indigenous Services Canada [...]
CanPath to study the impact and immune response to COVID-19 infection and vaccination
The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) COVID-19 Antibody Study is expanding. The Government of Canada is investing $1.9 million through Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) to fund an extension of CanPath’s existing study over a longer period of time, allowing for an additional collection of blood samples and questionnaire responses from participants. This [...]
Delaying second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine produces stronger immune response
The first peer-reviewed study in North America examining the timing between the first and second doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines shows that a longer dose interval leads to a stronger immune response. The study is funded by the Government of Canada through its COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF). Principal investigator Dr. Brian Grunau, Assistant Professor [...]
One in five vaccinated long-term care residents were at risk of COVID because of low antibody levels, supporting need for booster shots
New research from McMaster University, aimed at understanding the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines, found some long-term care residents no longer had high antibody levels months after their second dose, directly supporting government decisions to provide third doses.
CITF Leadership Group membership update
Given the toll that COVID-19 has had among Indigenous communities during the pandemic, the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) has put a high priority on studies engaging Indigenous communities and on fostering the relationships necessary for these partnerships to flourish. Considering Dr. Carrie Bourassa’s change in status with CIHR and the University of Saskatchewan, and its impact on her ability to fulfill her Task Force responsibilities, Dr. Bourassa has offered to step down from her Task Force role.
McMaster researchers investigate causes of long COVID
McMaster University scientists are conducting research on the long-term illness suffered by some patients after they’ve recovered from COVID-19, which may be caused by immune dysfunction.
Researchers to study COVID-19 in the Orthodox Jewish Community of Montreal
The Government of Canada, through the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF), is supporting a study that will investigate COVID-19 among the Orthodox Jewish community in the Montreal-area, which has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
New study will assess impact of COVID-19 vaccination on Canadians with immune-mediated inflammatory disease
More than 7 million Canadians suffer from immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and related conditions. It is important that they too be protected from COVID-19, yet the effectiveness and safety of vaccines for Canadians with these health issues has not been thoroughly investigated. The COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) and Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG) are supporting a nationwide study that will assess COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, safety and vaccine hesitancy in this potentially vulnerable group of people.
New study to assess COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among people living with chronic kidney disease
The COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) and the Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG) are announcing a new study led by Sunnybrook researchers, which seeks to better understand the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Survey offers new insight into which Canadians do not intend to get vaccinated
A national survey has found that at the start of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, most Canadians planned to get vaccinated, but that intentions were lower among certain demographic groups, including residents of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, individuals without a university degree, and racialized Canadians.
Study results show subtle differences in antibody response between Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for residents of long-term care
This CITF-funded research, which is in pre-print, was led by Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI) senior scientists Dr. Anne-Claude Gingras and Dr. Allison McGeer and reveals that long-term care (LTC) residents in Ontario who received the Pfizer vaccine had lower antibody responses to Alpha, Beta and Gamma than those vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine. The Delta variant was not assessed.
Researchers to study COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and safety in transplant patients
A national research study has just launched to investigate the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in transplant recipients. The Government of Canada, through its COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) and Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG), is investing over $2.84 million in this research study, based at University Health Network and called PREVenT COVID, short for Prospective Evaluation of COVID-19 Vaccine in Transplant Recipients: A National Strategy.