Geographic & Priority Populations
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 Study website View study on 
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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Determinants of COVID-19 Community Transmission: Learning from the Hutterites
Achieving a better understanding of how COVID-19 vaccination can protect entire communities is one of the most important challenges facing governments both in Canada and worldwide. This is best studied in entire communities, and to do this, it is critical to understand the role of indirect protection or herd effect on community transmission, taking into account the role of pre-existing immunity.
Prospective cohort studies of COVID-19 where members of multiple entire cities or towns are enrolled are usually not feasible, however our study is following several Hutterite colonies. Most Hutterites live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba where they practice communal farming on small colonies relatively isolated from towns and cities. Within these homogeneous, moderately-sized colonies, the communal lifestyle facilitates regular transmission of respiratory viruses. Our study aims to understand the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on community COVID-19 transmission in Hutterite colonies in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
We are following Hutterite colony members for a total of eighteen months. We are collecting blood samples for antibody testing and obtaining regular nasal swab samples for COVID-19 testing. We are also recording the instance of COVID-19 vaccination among participants, and using statistical modeling to understand the levels of COVID-19 vaccination required to achieve protection in the Hutterite colonies and assessing the impact of the various vaccines that have been administered. Finally, our study will help understand the transmission of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including Omicron, in Hutterite communities.
Findings from this cohort study will inform policy makers about the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination interrupts transmission of the virus within communities.
Dr. Peter Nugus
Dr. Peter Nugus
Associate Professor, Associate Director (Graduate Programs), Institute of Health Sciences Education, McGill University
Contact info
peter.nugus@mcgill.ca
Key words
COVID-19, infectious disease, sociology, qualitative research, syndemic, emergency, interdisciplinarity, health professions education, ethnography, marginalization, mixed methods research
Research interests
Care coordination
Emergency care
Work-based learning
Organizational structures, cultures and processes
Policy-practice interface
Dr. Fernanda Claudio
Dr. Fernanda Claudio
Lead, Curriculum Design and Alignment, Post-graduate Medical Education
Contact info
fernanda.claudio@mcgill.ca
Key words
COVID-19, infectious disease, anthropology, qualitative research, syndemic, interdisciplinarity, curriculum, medical education, ethnography, marginalization, mixed methods research
Research interests
Infectious disease anthropology
Culture
Syndemics
Marginalized communities
Vulnerability
COVID-19 in the Orthodox Jewish Community of Montreal: A mixed-methods study of immunity integrating anthropology, epidemiology and immunology
Research into human illnesses ought to involve studying not only how the body reacts to illness, but also how people’s views and behaviours relate to avoiding illness and staying healthy. Our study aims to combine these two aspects of research to better understand the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in marginalized communities in Canada. We are looking at the relationship between how disease develops in a specific population and how its community members understand health and illness and behave in response.
Our study, called COVID-19 in the Orthodox Jewish Community of Montreal: A mixed-methods study of immunity integrating anthropology, epidemiology and immunology, uses a mixed-method approach involving several disciplines, and our interdisciplinary research team is working with the Orthodox Jewish community in the Montreal area, a group that has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The research team comprises Peter Nugus (Sociology), Fernanda Claudio (Anthropology), Tracie Barnett (Epidemiology), Ciro Piccirillo (Immunology), Jörg Fritz (Immunology), Tibor Schuster (Biostatistics), Aron Friedlander (Senior Medical Liaison), Peter Steinmetz (Medical Director, Clinic), Maureen McCormick (Project Manager) and Shrage Muller (Community Liaison Administrator).
Through the Refuah V’Chesed medical clinic in the Mile End neighbourhood of Montreal, the community formed a partnership with our researchers to investigate the relationship between beliefs, behaviours and immunity with respect to COVID-19. We are taking blood samples from 1,250 participants before and after vaccination to study their immune responses, including the response to SARS-CoV-2 variants. As well, we are surveying all participants, performing in-depth interviews with certain participants, and conducting participant-observation within their community to best understand the members’ everyday lives and any challenges they have.
Refuah V’Chesed has played a crucial role in managing COVID-19 among the Orthodox Jewish communities and this study will contribute to better understanding immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in the communities and how to protect families during future COVID-19 outbreaks.
The study will also achieve a second wider aim since knowledge learned from the Orthodox Jewish community can contribute to informing policy for other marginalized communities in Canada.
CITF-funded findings on the importance of community engagement in research
CITF-funded findings on the importance of community engagement in research
Social and economic inequities, and related unequal access to health resources, increase risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 outcomes. Developing relationships that connect researchers with community and local health leaders fosters trust.
Sonia Savitri Anand
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, McMaster University
Vascular Medicine Specialist, Hamilton Health Sciences
Associate Chair Equity, Diversity, Department of Medicine, McMaster
Senior Scientist, Population Health Research Institute
Contact info
anands@mcmaster.ca
Key words
Ethnicity
Chronic diseases
Population health
Research interests
Ethnicity and cardiovascular disease
Sex and gender
Social determinants of health
Scott Lear
Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences and Department of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
Member, Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care
Contact info
slear@providencehealth.bc.ca
Key words
Public health
Ethnicity
Chronic disease
Lifestyle medicine
Physical activity
Digital health
Research interests
The development and evaluation of digital health services for patients with chronic disease
Understanding the role between the built environment, lifestyle behaviours and health
The prevention and management of cardiovascular disease
The role of physical activity in health and disease
Investigating Vaccine Access, Immunogenicity, Effectiveness, and Safety among South Asians in Ontario and British Columbia
This 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). Researchers are taking a targeted approach by enrolling participants at vaccination clinics held in South Asian communities and following them forward in time to collect contextual information including their living and work conditions, as well as their clinical and health care access information.
We are using the dried blood spot (DBS) method to test for antibodies before and after vaccination. Researchers are comparing vaccinated to non-vaccinated South Asians and adjusting for socioeconomic status, the presence of chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes, and occupational health factors to determine vaccine effectiveness and safety.They are also determining the proportion of people who are hesitant or refuse to take the vaccine and the underlying reasons behind this resistance.
The information researchers gather will help inform public health decision-makers and healthcare professionals on vaccine access, uptake, immune response and effectiveness in Canada’s South Asian communities.
Investigating Vaccine Access, Immunogenicity, Effectiveness, and Safety among South Asians in Ontario and British Columbia
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. Their risk of becoming infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is five to 10 times higher than white Canadians, and their risk of death from COVID-19 is 1.5 to two times higher. Researchers aim to understand if socio-cultural factors such as multigenerational households, occupational factors such as doing essential work, and biological factors such as differences in susceptibility or response to infection and vaccination play a role in this.
Our interdisciplinary team of experts has analyzed data provided by more than 900 South Asian adult participants from communities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA). Our study was then expanded to include children and youth aged 6 to 17 years from South Asian and new immigrant communities in the GTA. Researchers are taking a targeted approach by enrolling participants at vaccination clinics held in South Asian communities and following them forward in time to collect contextual information including their living and work conditions, as well as their clinical and healthcare access information.
We are using the dried blood spot (DBS) method to test for antibodies before and after vaccination. Researchers are comparing vaccinated to non-vaccinated South Asians and adjusting for socioeconomic status, the presence of chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes, and occupational health factors to determine vaccine effectiveness and safety. They are also determining the proportion of people who are hesitant or refuse to take the vaccine and the underlying reasons behind this resistance.
The information researchers gather will help inform public health decision-makers and healthcare professionals on vaccine access, uptake, immune response and effectiveness in Canada’s South Asian communities.
Results: Investigating Vaccine Access, Immunogenicity, Effectiveness, and Safety among South Asians in Ontario and British Columbia
A CITF-supported study, published in Health Promotion Practice, presents field notes to provide insights into culturally responsive, trust-centered, and communication-focused strategies that could be used to improve research conducted during a respiratory pathogen pandemic.
A CITF-funded study, published as a preprint and not yet peer-reviewed, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among South Asians in Ontario compared to non-South Asians. The researchers also assessed the odds of symptomatic COVID-19 infection and related hospitalizations and deaths among non-vaccinated South Asians and non-South Asians.
COVID-19’s toll on South Asians living in Ontario
Nearly a quarter (23.6%) of a sample of South Asians living primarily in Ontario’s Peel Region1 had evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 by the end of the third viral wave in July 2021.
COVID-19’s toll on South Asians living in Ontario
Nearly a quarter (23.6%) of a sample of South Asians living primarily in Ontario’s Peel Region had evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 by the end of the pandemic’s third wave in July 2021, according to a CITF-funded study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Open.
Understanding community perceptions related to vaccine acceptance
A preprint, not yet peer-reviewed, from a CITF-funded study led by Dr. Sonia Anand (McMaster University) focused on the South Asian community to demonstrate that understanding factors such as community dynamics, language, and cultural context can help build vaccine confidence and acceptance among diverse population groups.
COVID-19’s toll on South Asians living in Ontario
Nearly a quarter (23.6%) of a sample of South Asians living primarily in Ontario’s Peel Region had evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 by the end of the pandemic’s third wave in July 2021, according to a CITF-funded study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Open.
The Government of Canada, through its COVID-19 Immunity Task Force and Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group is supporting a new pan-Canadian study that will investigate the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine within the South Asian community.
Deshayne Fell
Associate Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa
Scientist, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
Adjunct Scientist, ICES
Affiliate Agent, BORN Ontario
Contact info
dfell@cheo.on.ca
Key words
Vaccination in pregnancy
Maternal immunization
Perinatal epidemiology
Research interests
Primary research focus is on safety and effectiveness of immunization during pregnancy
Population-based perinatal research using large, linked databases
Publications
Fell DB, Dimitris MC, Hutcheon JA, Ortiz JR, Platt RW, Regan AK, Savitz DA. Guidance for design and analysis of observational studies of fetal and newborn outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. Vaccine 2021 Apr 1;39(14):1882-1886. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.02.070. Epub 2021 Mar 2.
COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: A province-wide epidemiological assessment of safety and effectiveness using the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario Registry
In Canada, as elsewhere in the world, pregnant individuals are encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine since they are at higher risk for hospitalization and admission to an intensive care unit if they become infected with COVID-19. Recent real-world evidence supports safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy, however pregnant individuals were excluded from the initial mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 clinical trials so additional research and surveillance of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant people are needed. Gathering data on this group is essential to help individuals and public health authorities make informed decisions about vaccination during pregnancy.
This study, called COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: A province-wide epidemiological assessment of safety and effectiveness using the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario Registry, benefits from an existing province-wide maternal-newborn registry in Ontario called the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN). It is the largest maternal-newborn database in Canada and collects extensive clinical data on all pregnancies and births in Ontario, which number approximately 140,000 a year. Researchers are combining information collected through BORN with information from the Ontario Ministry of Health vaccination registry (COVaxON) for all pregnant individuals in Ontario to assess the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in this group.
The study objectives are to evaluate mother and baby health outcomes, comparing individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy with those who did not; evaluate how effectively vaccination prevents COVID-19 infection in pregnant individuals; assess how safe vaccination is when received during pregnancy; describe the use of first, second and third vaccine doses in pregnant individuals; and create a registry of people who receive COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy for future studies of long-term health outcomes in mothers and their infants.
Results: COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: A province-wide epidemiological assessment of safety and effectiveness using the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario Registry
A CITF-funded study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, reported that maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy was associated with lower risks of severe neonatal morbidity, neonatal death, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission.
CITF-funded findings on COVID-19 and vaccine effects on pregnancy and infants
CITF-funded studies have confirmed that COVID-19 is indeed more severe in many pregnant people, and that pregnant people and their babies respond just as well as the general population to COVID-19 vaccines.
A CITF-funded study, published in BMJ Medicine, reported that pregnant individuals who received a third COVID-19 vaccine dose (first booster dose) during pregnancy had no increased risk of adverse pregnancy, fetal, and neonatal outcomes compared to those who did not receive a third dose. This study was led by Dr. Deshayne Fell (University of Ottawa and CHEO Research Institute).
Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against VOCs in Canada
The race to vaccinate the world against SARS-CoV-2 became more urgent as variants of concern (VOCs) began to emerge.
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Ontario
Pregnant individuals in Ontario have only been designated a priority population for COVID-19 vaccination since late April 2021.
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Ontario – Report #2
In a study supported by the Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG) and the CITF, Dr. Deshayne Fell and her team at the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) in Ontario are evaluating province-wide data on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant individuals. In their second report, which includes results up to June 30, 2021, they found that 28% of the pregnant […]
COVID-19 vaccine coverage among pregnant individuals in Ontario
In their third report, CITF-funded researcher Dr. Deshayne Fell and her team at the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) in Ontario found that 58.7% of people who were pregnant in September 2021 had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy. Since pregnant individuals are considered a high-risk population for COVID-19 complications based […]
New data on COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Ontario
Among people who were pregnant in Ontario in March 2022, 81.3% had received one or more doses before or during pregnancy.
In a paper published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), CITF-funded researchers Drs. Deshayne Fell and Kumanan Wilson of the University of Ottawa and Dr. Jeffrey Kwong from the University of Toronto and colleagues found that COVID-19 vaccination was not significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is not associated with adverse birth outcomes
In a CITF-funded study published in BMJ and led by Dr. Deshayne Fell from the University of Ottawa and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, researchers explored whether COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy had an effect on preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age at birth, and stillbirth.
COVID-19 vaccine coverage in the pregnant population remains low in Ontario
Among individuals who were pregnant in May 2022, nearly 80% had received two or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy, which is low compared to the general female population of reproductive age in Ontario (approximately 91%).
COVID-19 vaccine coverage among pregnant individuals in Ontario
In their third report, CITF-funded researcher Dr. Deshayne Fell and her team at the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) in Ontario found that 58.7% of people who were pregnant in September 2021 had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy. Since pregnant individuals are considered a high-risk population for COVID-19 complications based […]
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Ontario – Report #2
In a study supported by the Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG) and the CITF, Dr. Deshayne Fell and her team at the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) in Ontario are evaluating province-wide data on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant individuals. In their second report, which includes results up to June 30, 2021, they found that 28% of the pregnant […]
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Ontario
Pregnant individuals in Ontario have only been designated a priority population for COVID-19 vaccination since late April 2021.
Jack Jedwab
President and CEO of the Association for Canadian Studies and the Metropolis Institute
Contact info
jack.jedwab@acs-aec.ca
Research interests
Immigration
Multiculturalism
Diversity
Human rights
Official languages
Publications
https://acs-aec.ca/en/studies/
Curfews and closing borders with neighbouring provinces – May 6, 2021
Conversation: After one year of the pandemic, to what extent is COVID-19 the dominant theme at the dinner table? – May 6, 2021
How do Canadians feel about school closings? – May 3, 2021
Vaccinate rollout: Who gets credit/who gets blame? – May 3, 2021
Do stay at home measures and curfews confine us? – April 26, 2021
The ‘non-vaccinated’ will likely face considerable stigma – April 30, 2021
Vaccine passports: The majority of Canadians are favorable to the idea – March 4, 2021
What are the biggest stressors and sources of frustration to which COVID-19 is giving rise? – January 29, 2021
Protecting me, protecting you, protecting both, protecting neither? Canadian opinion on vaccination – January 15, 2021
Pandemic governance: Which level of government do you think has done the best job in addressing crisis and who do you trust most? – January 15, 2021
Has the vaccine injected some optimism into the COVID year end mood of most Canadians? – January 13, 2020
Report – Quebec: Should the vaccine be mandatory or voluntary? – December 17, 2020
Report: Who should decide whether a vaccine should be mandatory? – December 16, 2020
COV-Ideology: The intersection between ideological preference and views on the contagion – December 15, 2020
Environmental concerns, climate change and COVID-19 – November 26, 2020
Many Canadians are gaining weight, eating more and exercising less since the outbreak of the pandemic – November 24, 2020
Which groups do Canadians see most vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis? – November 9, 2020
Measuring attitudes and perceptions on the impact of COVID-19 in select sub-Saharan African cities – October 31, 2020
Simona Bignami
Associate Professor, Université de Montréal
Contact info
simona.bignami@umontreal.ca
Key words
COVID-19
Infectious diseases
Household living arrangements
Family dynamics
Social statistics
Research interests
COVID-19
Infectious diseases
Living arrangements
Survey methods
Publications
RIFFE, Tim, Enrique ACOSTA, Simona BIGNAMI-VAN ASSCHE and the COVerAGE-DB team. 2021. “Data Resource Profile: COVerAGE-DB: A global demographic database of COVID-19 cases and deaths (COVerAGE-DB),” International Journal of Epidemiology, 390-390f.
COVID-19 Risk and Immunity in Montreal North: A Population-based Study
Montreal North is a borough of Montreal with a population of approximately 85,000. It is one of the most densely populated, racially diverse and lowest-income boroughs in the city and, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, has had one of the highest per capita rates of infection. As of early June 2021, the borough had a lower-than-average rate of vaccination compared to other areas of the city. This study aims to determine the factors that have put residents of Montreal North at heightened risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, the extent to which they have been infected with the virus, and how their risk and immunity profile is related to vaccine uptake in the community.
The study, called COVID-19 Risk and Immunity in Montreal North: A Population-based Study, has two phases and is enrolling 4,000 individuals per phase. Over the course of a year, researchers are conducting household-based surveys, in which individuals 18 and older are asked to complete two rounds of online questionnaires. Participants are also invited to give blood samples to determine if they have COVID-19 antibodies, as an indication of past infection or vaccination. The antibody testing will allow researchers to estimate the true extent to which residents of Montreal North have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, even if they had no symptoms or mild symptoms, compared to those who have immunity acquired through vaccination only.
The research involves comparing the data collected from Montreal North residents with data from other neighbourhoods in Montreal to understand how individual- and community-level characteristics increase the risk of contracting the virus.
The conclusions drawn from the study will help decision-makers improve efforts aimed at reducing COVID-19 in high-risk areas.
CITF-funded findings on the importance of community engagement in research
CITF-funded findings on the importance of community engagement in research
Social and economic inequities, and related unequal access to health resources, increase risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 outcomes. Developing relationships that connect researchers with community and local health leaders fosters trust.
Deborah Money
Deborah Money, MD, FRCSC
Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Medicine & School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Clinician Scientist, Women’s Health Research Institute
Contact info
deborah.money@ubc.ca
Key words
Reproductive infectious diseases
Pregnancy
COVID-19
HIV
HPV
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Research interests
COVID-19 in pregnancy
HIV
HPV
The maternal/infant microbiome
Perinatal infections
Publications
E McClymont, H Abenhaim, A Albert, I Boucoiran, K Cassell, E Castillo, J Crane, C Elwood, DB Fell, C Joynt, A Kotaska, J Martel, P Murphy, L Murphy-Kaulbeck, V Poliquin, S Ryan, S Saunders, H Scott, P Shah, J Snelgrove, J van Schalkwyk, MH Yudin, and D Money for the CANCOVID-Preg Team (2021). Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy (CANCOVID-Preg): A Rapidly Coordinated National Response Using Established Regional Infrastructures. JOGC. 43(2): 165-66.
E McClymont, C Elwood, I Sekirov, M Morshed, P Levett, A Liu, A Jassem, G Ogilvie, D Money, and M Krajden (2021). Population SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Using Antenatal Serum Samples in British Columbia, Canada. JOGC. 43 (11): 1242-43.
W Fu, B Sivajohan, E McClymont, A Albert, C Elwood, G Ogilvie, and D Money (2022). Systematic review of the safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant and lactating individuals and their infants. Int J Gyn Obstet. 156(3): 406-417.
Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Registry for Pregnant and Lactating Individuals (COVERED): An Evaluation of Safety, Effectiveness, and Acceptability
While pregnant or breastfeeding individuals were excluded from the initial mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 clinical trials, recent real-world evidence shows that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines seem to be 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.
This study, called Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Registry for Pregnant and Lactating Individuals (COVERED): An Evaluation of Safety, Effectiveness, and Acceptability, is open to pregnant and breastfeeding individuals in all 10 provinces and three territories, whether or not they have chosen to take the vaccine. Researchers ask participants to volunteer for the registry; once they consent and enrol, they complete a survey. Using the information they provide, they are monitoring the safety of the various vaccines from the perspective of pregnancy and infant outcomes as well as potentially determining if the vaccines are more effective or less effective in this group. The assessment of attitudes to vaccines in this important population will be critical to understanding what determines decisions to take or not take a vaccine.
Study results will provide federal and provincial public health authorities with Canadian data to guide vaccine recommendations and decisions in the future. Researchers will also make their findings available to the public to assist pregnant and breastfeeding individuals in making informed choices about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Researchers are working in partnership with vaccine surveillance efforts across Canada including CANVAS, a national web-based platform monitoring vaccine safety in all populations across Canada.
Results: Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Registry for Pregnant and Lactating Individuals (COVERED): An Evaluation of Safety, Effectiveness, and Acceptability
A CITF-funded study, published in Vaccine, provides further reassurance that COVID-19 vaccination is effective and not harmful during pregnancy. Researchers reported that people – whether pregnant or not - had similar side effects from COVID-19 vaccines.
CITF-funded findings on COVID-19 and vaccine effects on pregnancy and infants
CITF-funded studies have confirmed that COVID-19 is indeed more severe in many pregnant people, and that pregnant people and their babies respond just as well as the general population to COVID-19 vaccines.
The Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes (CANCOVID-Preg)
The Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes (CANCOVID-Preg) is a comprehensive, national surveillance project that was initiated in 2020 and initially funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada. CANCOVID-Preg tracks outcomes following COVID-19 infection in pregnancy. Data to date indicate that pregnant persons diagnosed with COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe illness, including maternal hospitalization and admission to an intensive care unit. Increased rates of preterm birth and admission to a neonatal intensive care unit have also been observed. CANCOVID-Preg results have directly contributed to the prioritization of pregnant persons for vaccination in many provinces and territories.
Despite these adverse outcomes and recommendations for immunization, high rates of vaccine hesitancy exist among pregnant persons, making them a priority population that remain at risk of COVID-19 complications. Continued surveillance efforts are therefore needed to protect pregnant populations.
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. In doing so, our data will inform the evolving impact that variants of concern have on both vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant populations.
This project is uniquely positioned to provide extensive population-level, surveillance data on both maternal and infant outcomes over time (from March 2020 onwards). Our results will contribute to Canadian data on serious illness in unvaccinated compared to vaccinated pregnant persons, help dispel myths, and encourage vaccination in those planning a pregnancy as well as those who are currently pregnant.
The Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes (CANCOVID-Preg)
A study funded in part by CITF, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that comorbidities, nutritional status, and older age were associated with severe COVID-19-related outcomes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and fetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality.
CANCOVID-Preg: key aims and protocols
A CITF-funded group, Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy (CANCOVID-Preg), published a research letter in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada in 2021, summarizing its aims and protocols focused on the maternal-newborn population as a pan-Canadian national response to COVID-19.
A CITF-funded report published in March 2022 by the Canadian COVID-19 Population Serological Survey Utilizing Antenatal Serum Samples (Antenatal Serostudies) project leveraged existing blood samples collected through routine prenatal screening to assess immunity levels in the general population through the lens of the pregnant population.
The 6th report (to December 2022) from the CITF-funded Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy (CANCOVID-Preg) project showed a decline since December 2021 in intensive care unit admissions and hospitalizations for pregnant people diagnosed with COVID-19.
CITF-funded researcher Dr. Deborah Money, from the University of British Columbia, and the CANCOVID-Preg team published a study in JAMA, observing that SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes and preterm births in those who were unvaccinated.
Brittany Barker
Brittany Barker
Research Scientist, BC Centre on Substance Use, Providence Health Care
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Collaborating Scientist, Canadian Institute of Substance Use Research, University of Victoria
Health Surveillance Overdose Response Researcher, First Nations Health Authority
Contact info
bccsu-bb@bccsu.ubc.ca
Key words
Vaccine effectiveness
Immunogenicity
Cohort studies
People who use drugs/substance use
Epidemiology
Research interests
Community-based participatory research with people with lived/living experience
Health system policy and program evaluations
Harm reduction and health equity-focused research
Indigenous health research and decolonization
Youth in the child welfare system
Publications
Nosyk B, Slaunwhite A, Urbanoski K…Barker B…Pauly B. (2021). Evaluation of risk mitigation measures for people with substance use disorders to address the dual public health crises of COVID-19 and overdose in British Columbia: A mixed-methods study protocol. BMJ Open, 11(6):e048353. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048353
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
This research project, called 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, is looking at these issues among participants of three community-based studies (VIDUS, ACCESS and ARYS) in Vancouver which follow people who use unregulated drugs; these studies have a strong track record of following this population since 2005. The objectives include:
- Analyzing the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and comparing data among specific groups (e.g. people who are homeless, people who live with HIV) within structurally vulnerable populations;
- Evaluating how long vaccines are effective against infection;
- Assessing vaccine uptake and if people adhere to vaccination protocols; and
- Investigating potential side effects from the vaccines.
To accomplish this, researchers are collecting and analyzing blood samples and interview data from the three studies, and they are asking participants to take part in an initial visit as well as three follow-up visits over six months to gather additional information.
This research is being conducted in partnership with people with living experience. The findings are being shared with community and public health partners and will contribute to providing real-word data to evaluate vaccines in vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.
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
A CITF-funded study, published in Scientific Reports, found that only 48% of people who use drugs (PWUD) had received at least two SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses at baseline in September 2021, much lower than in the general population (70%) in British Columbia at that time.
Upton Allen
Upton Allen
Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
Contact info
Upton.allen@sickkids.ca
Key words
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Black Canadians
Seroprevalence
racialized communities.
Research interests
Disease susceptibility
Viral diseases
Clinical research
Compromised immune system
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among African Canadians: Clinical and Epidemiological Correlates
Our study is following 2,000 Black Canadians and 1,000 non-Black Canadians living in specific Ontario postal code areas for comparative purposes. Participants provide blood samples, which are being tested for antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as a possible indicator of a previous COVID-19 infection. For participants who have antibodies, repeat testing at different time points is being done to determine how long their antibodies last.
Our research will also look at work, housing and socioeconomic factors, as well as pre-existing medical conditions since these have been associated with higher rates of COVID-19 infection.
Protecting and promoting the health of Black communities is essential and the study results will help us better understand who should be prioritized for enhanced support and preventative measures, and how this support can best be tailored to individual communities.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among African Canadians: Clinical and Epidemiological Correlates
Black Canadians had disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19 early in the pandemic
A CITF-funded study, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, reported on the results of serologic testing for SARS-CoV-2 infections in the Black Canadian community and found that early in the pandemic, Black Canadians had disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19 compared to white Canadians.
CITF-funded findings on methodologic approaches to improve seroprevalence estimates
Assessing seroprevalence is the main methodology used in Canada and around the world to determine the extent and trends in SARS-CoV-2 immunity, whether from infection, vaccination, or both.
CITF-funded findings on the importance of community engagement in research
Social and economic inequities, and related unequal access to health resources, increase risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 outcomes. Developing relationships that connect researchers with community and local health leaders fosters trust.
HostSeq: A Canadian consortium collecting genetic data to identify factors associated with COVID-19
The HostSeq platform, established in April 2020, is a national collaboration of population-based studies investigating the genetic risk factors behind SARS-CoV-2 infection and health outcomes associated with it.
Toward Enhancing COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence among African Canadians: Sustainability of Immune Responses and Safety Profiles
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. This research builds on another study the same researchers are conducting to assess the development of COVID-19 antibodies among Black Canadians. Researchers are also determining the factors that might influence vaccine responses among this group.
This study includes 2,000 people across Canada who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. The participants include Black Canadians and a minority of non-Black Canadians for comparative purposes. Researchers are doing blood tests before and after vaccination, for a total of four times over the course of a year, to check the extent to which their immune systems respond to the vaccine. They are also surveying participants to find out if they experienced any adverse events after vaccination.
Researchers are working closely with public health teams connected to the areas where the study participants live, and have also established a community advisory group with people from Black communities. On a broader scale, researchers are working with existing vaccine surveillance networks in Canada to contribute the data we collect on Black Canadians.
The research results will show if there are any differences in safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines between Black and non-Black Canadians. Theoretically, there are several factors that could result in such differences. The safety data from racialized communities will be important to building vaccine confidence and reducing hesitancy in the future.
Philip Awadalla
Philip Awadalla, PhD
Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Professor, Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Adjunct Professor, CHUM, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal
Director, Computational Biology, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
Senior Investigator, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
National Scientific Director, Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath)
Executive Scientific Director, Ontario Health Study
Principal Investigator and Director, Genome Canada Canadian Data Integration Centre
Key words
Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath), SUPPORT-Canada, Ontario Health Study, Serology, Immunity, COVID-prevalence, Genomics
Research interests
– Genomics
– Early Cancer Detection
– Quantitative and population genetics
– Precision medicine
– Cancer diagnostic markers development
– Big data and Machine Intelligence
Publications
– CPHA Webinar – CanPath COVID-19 Questionnaire Results: A Preliminary Analysis
– Ouellette TW, Shaw J, Awadalla P. Using image-based haplotype alignments to map global adaptation of SARS-CoV-2. 2021. Biorxiv (and in review)
COVID-19 antibodies among high-risk populations in Canada
Between February and October 2021, as part of the first phase of the COVID-19 Antibody Study, CanPath participants completed more than 28,000 online questionnaires and provided over 26,000 dried blood spot samples to identify health and risk factor information, COVID-19 testing and vaccination information. These participants, aged 30 and older, include long-term care and retirement home residents, self-declared immigrants, and individuals living in underserved urban and rural communities with higher numbers of COVID-19 cases.
The second phase of the study involves collecting a second dried blood spot sample from participants to evaluate the immune responses (presence and level of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2) over time in people who have had one, two or three doses of vaccine, have had different vaccines (or a mix of brands), and are of different sexes and ages, among other criteria.
The second phase of the study is also seeking to evaluate immune responses and vaccine effectiveness in participants with reported underlying medical conditions and on medications that may render an individual immunocompromised or immunosuppressed.
This initiative is implemented in collaboration with CanPath’s regional cohorts: the BC Generations Project, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, the Manitoba Tomorrow Project, Ontario Health Study, CARTaGENE (Quebec), and the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health.
These findings will help improve our understanding of the spread of COVID-19 among populations at higher risk of infection and allow us to plan and target public health approaches more effectively.
Results: COVID-19 Antibody Study
Early results from a national study confirm antibody levels are stronger after receiving two doses
Initial preliminary results from the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) COVID-19 Antibody Study, based on close to 6,000 dried blood spot samples collected between February 8 and May 17, 2021, show a high degree of variability in the level of antibodies produced by a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. These findings highlight the importance of accelerating second doses as the Delta variant continues to spread, particularly with the vast majority of Canadians having received only a single vaccine dose.
Hudson Reddon
Hudson Reddon
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia
BC Centre on Substance Use
Contact info
hudson.reddon@bccsu.ubc.ca
Key words
Vaccine effectiveness
Immunogenicity
Vaccine uptake
People who use drugs
HIV
Research interests
Infectious diseases
HIV
Substance use
Epidemiology
Stephen Hwang
Professor, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Staff Physician, General Internal Medicine, Unity Health Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital
Director, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital
Contact info
stephen.hwang@unityhealth.to
Key words
COVID-19 pandemic
SARS-CoV-2
Homelessness
Cohort study
Public health
Research interests
Social determinants of health
Homelessness and homeless people
Access to care
Health services research
Population and public health
THE Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi STUDY: HOMELESSNESS AND COVID-19 (formerly COVENANT Study)
More than 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness every year. Shelters are an ideal environment for transmission of COVID-19, due to crowding, shared space, and high turnover. People who are homeless may also have chronic health conditions that increase the risk of poor outcomes if they develop COVID-19.
The Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi Study (formerly the COVENANT Study) is gathering in-depth information on COVID-19 infections among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, which has Canada’s largest homeless population. About 7,000 individuals stay in shelters in Toronto each night, and rates of infection have been more than 20 times higher than in the non-institutionalized general population.
Our researchers are following approximately 700 people experiencing homelessness over the course of a year. We are testing for current and past SARS-CoV-2 infections, recording participants’ symptoms, and asking about their interactions with the healthcare and shelter systems to further our understanding of potential risk factors. Administrative data will also be collected to validate self-reported information. This high-quality, real-time data will build a computer simulation model that can make accurate projections of COVID-19 transmission in this population, as well as evaluate the potential impact of interventions aimed at reducing transmission.
We will also monitor vaccine uptake and the reasons for vaccine hesitancy through a qualitative sub-study that will follow-up up to 40 people from the main cohort. This will contextualize the epidemiological data collected and better inform public health decision makers about what these populations need in a crisis.
The Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi study will help reduce the impact on our health care system and better inform public health measures across Canada. Those measures could include prioritizing people experiencing homelessness for vaccination; implementing repeated screening of the homeless population (rather than one-time screening); creating smaller shelter facilities; and placing high-risk individuals in temporary housing. Our ultimate goal is to detect, control, and prevent COVID-19 in this high-risk, disadvantaged population.
THE Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi STUDY: HOMELESSNESS AND COVID-19 (formerly COVENANT Study)
Longitudinal sero-monitoring enhances ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 re-infections
A CITF-funded study, published in BMC Infectious Diseases, found that longitudinal sero-monitoring for antibodies, combined with PCR or RAT saliva testing for acute infection, increased the detection of re-infections four-fold compared to PCR or RAT tests alone.
In this study update presented as an infographic to the CITF, the research team reported the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection at baseline, incidence of first SARS-CoV-2 infections by six months of follow-up, and the rate of vaccination among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto.
People experiencing homelessness were at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection
A CITF-funded study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that people experiencing homelessness had high rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection throughout 2021 and 2022, particularly after the Omicron variant became dominant.
CITF-funded findings from studies of diverse populations
Many CITF-funded studies focus on Canadian populations as diverse as people experiencing homelessness, incarcerated individuals, people admitted to emergency units, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities.
The COVENANT Study: COVID-19 cohort studies people experiencing homelessness in Toronto
Non-peer-reviewed data from the CITF-funded COVENANT Study, exploring the impact of SARS-CoV-2 among populations experiencing homelessness in Toronto, found the majority of participants (80%) reported being vaccinated by September 2021, with 79% of them having two doses. 14% were hesitant to be vaccinated. The results were given by study lead Dr. Stephen Hwang, from […]
High COVID-19 vaccine coverage for people experiencing homelessness in Toronto
A manuscript from a CITF-funded study, published in Vaccines, CITF-funded researcher Dr. Stephen Hwang (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital and University of Toronto) and colleagues found that vaccine uptake among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto was high, with 80.4% of the 736 study participants having received at least one dose by summer 2021, and 63.6% having received two or more doses.
Studying COVID-19 infections in people experiencing homelessness in Toronto
In a paper published in BMJ Open, Dr. Stephan Hwang (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital and University of Toronto) and colleagues developed a study protocol documenting the CITF-funded Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi-win study (formerly known as the COVENANT study), which aims to estimate the prevalence and incidence of COVID-19 infection among people experiencing homelessness in Canada.
In a paper published in BMJ Open, Drs. Jesse Jenkinson, Stephen Hwang (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, University of Toronto) and colleagues outlined their study protocol for characterizing COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto.
Prabhat Jha
Professor of Global Health, University of Toronto
Unity Health Toronto
Scientist
Contact
Prabhat.jha@utoronto.ca
Key words
Epidemiology
Research interests
Epidemiology
Action to beat Coronavirus in Canada (Ab‐C Study)
Looking at past infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus can help determine the spread of the disease in the general population and quantify levels of population immunity. Our study, the Action to Beat Coronavirus (Ab-C Study), involves asking randomly selected adults from across Canada (through the Angus Reid Institute) to collect their own dried blood spot (DBS) samples, which they then mail to our central lab for rigorous testing to see if they have antibodies to the virus from past infection or vaccination.
Phase 1 of our study, completed in June 2020, documented the first COVID-19 wave across Canada and indicated that about two per cent of Canadians were seropositive. We also asked participants about their symptoms, demographics, and employment.
In Phase 2, which began early 2021, we repeated the DBS collection and survey with a group of approximately 7,200 participants and determined that seropositivity was still low.
In a sub-study, a pilot group of participants, including those with a positive antibody test in the initial phase, were asked to take part in a more detailed study of their antibody responses. In addition to collecting a DBS sample, they contributed a fresh blood sample (collected by a lab professional in their homes or in hospital). These were analyzed for a broad array of immune responses in specialized laboratory tests.
In Phase 3, we collected samples from about 6,000 participants in the summer of 2021. A substantial antibody response to vaccination was observed, on top of earlier infection-induced antibodies.
Phase 4 was timed around early 2022 to coincide with the peak of the Omicron-fuelled fifth wave. It covers approximately 6,000 participants. Phase 5 rolls-out later in 2022 and involves about 5,500 participants. Similar to earlier phases, Phases 4 and 5 will quantify the persistence of antibodies and relate these to survey and serology data in relation to number of doses, brand of vaccine, vaccination dates, spacing, and other predictors. We also aim to evaluate differences in antibody response by identifiable demographic and risk groups, and how these relate to the Omicron-relevant outcomes. A final aim of the study is to pilot test a low-cost, home-based DBS collection system that can be used in large-scale antibody studies in Canada and around the world.
Results: Action to beat Coronavirus in Canada (Ab‐C Study)
Up-to-date vaccination is important even among those with past COVID-19
A CITF-supported study, published in medRxiv and undergoing peer review at eLife Sciences, highlighted that to maintain population-level hybrid immunity up-to-date vaccination coverage is required, including among those recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
CITF-funded findings on pan-Canadian serosurveillance
The latest CITF-funded report from Canadian Blood Services suggests that the 80% mark in estimated infection-acquired seroprevalence among Canadian adults has now been reached.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence during the 1st and 2nd pandemic waves in Canada
In their CITF-funded research, Dr. Prabhat Jha and his team leading the Action to Beat Coronavirus (Ab-C) study estimated cumulative seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 during the first two viral waves.
Incidence of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection among vaccinated Canadian adults
In a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the CITF-funded Ab-C Study led by Dr. Prabhat Jha, from the University of Toronto, quantified SARS-CoV-2 incidence during the Omicron (BA.1/1.1) wave among Canadian adult members of the Angus Reid Forum.
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.
Intention to vaccinate among participants of a national study
In a recent article published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, CITF-funded researcher Dr. Prabhat Jha and his Action to beat Coronavirus (Ab-C Study) team estimated 9% of Canadians would refuse a COVID-19 vaccine and the authors identified key populations to work with to improve vaccine acceptance.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence during the 1st and 2nd pandemic waves in Canada
In their CITF-funded research, Dr. Prabhat Jha and his team leading the Action to Beat Coronavirus (Ab-C) study estimated cumulative seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 during the first two viral waves.
COVID Symptoms, Seroprevalence, and Mortality During the First Wave of SARS-CoV-2 in Canada
A large group of researchers found seroprevalence across Canada was low in the first wave of the pandemic but found 31% of those who tested positive for antibodies had never had symptoms. They also found the death rate in nursing homes was over 70 times greater than among elderly adults living outside of nursing homes.
Nadine Kronfli
Assistant Professor, McGill University
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre
Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Contact info
Nadine.kronfli@mcgill.ca
Key words
People in prison
vulnerable populations
implementation science
hepatitis C, HIV
Research interests
Hepatitis C elimination in prisons
HIV cascade of care among asylum seekers
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in prison settings
Serologic prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among provincial prison inmates in Quebec (SPIQ)
COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred in several Quebec correctional facilities. People in correctional settings are disproportionately affected by poor social determinants of health, which are defined by socioeconomic status and housing insecurity among other factors, and this leads to a higher prevalence of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, resulting in increased risk for severe COVID-19-associated disease and mortality. Our study seeks to identify the social determinants of health associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease among people in prison.
Participants are recruited from three provincial correctional facilities, representing approximately half of all adults in provincial custody in Quebec. Participation in the study is voluntary and results are confidential.
Our research will characterize the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in an understudied and vulnerable population, and will help guide health policy on the prioritization of COVID-19 vaccines.
Results: Serologic prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among provincial prison inmates in Quebec (SPIQ)
CITF-funded findings from studies of diverse populations
Many CITF-funded studies focus on Canadian populations as diverse as people experiencing homelessness, incarcerated individuals, people admitted to emergency units, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities.
Illicit opioid consumption decreased among incarcerated people in Quebec during pandemic
A CITF-funded study published in the International Journal of Prisoner Health, showed that approximately 59% of incarcerated people who use drugs reported decreased use of opioids since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
Seroprevalence and COVID-19 vaccination among correctional workers in Quebec
A CITF-funded study published in Frontiers in Public Health and led by Dr. Nadine Kronfli (McGill University Health Centre) showed that correctional officers were most likely to have acquired SARS-CoV-2 but least likely to be vaccinated when compared to all other correctional workers, underscoring the importance of addressing both occupational risks and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy to mitigate future outbreaks in the provincial prisons in Quebec.
Incarcerated individuals face an increased risk of acquiring COVID-19
Congregate settings (such as prisons, long-term care homes) have provided opportunities for COVID-19 to flourish. As part of her CITF-funded work, Dr. Nadine Kronfli from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre studied a cohort of incarcerated men at three provincial prisons in Quebec.
Muhammad Morshed
Clinical Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia
Clinical Microbiologist, BC Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver
Program Head, BC Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver
Key words
Specialized serology
Research interests
SARS CoV-2
Syphilis
Lyme disease
Zoonotic diseases
Vector-borne diseases
Sofia Bartlett
Postdoctoral Fellow, BC Centre for Disease Control, Clinical Prevention Services
Contact info
Sofia.bartlett@bccdc.ca
On twitter
Key words
People in prison
correctional settings
incarceration
COVID-19 prevalence
vaccine confidence
Research interests
Health outcomes and health care access among people in prison and people who were recently incarcerated
Prevalence of infectious diseases among people in prison
Engaging with people in prison to shape research agendas
Patient oriented research
Accelerating SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Surveys Through Dried Blood Spots (COVID-19 ASSESS-DBS study)
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, early identification and containment of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in correctional facilities in Canada was effective in restricting outbreaks to a small number of facilities. The number of COVID-19 cases in correctional facilities, however, has been higher than in the general population, and the extent of undetected previous SARS-CoV-2 infections among incarcerated individuals and staff across Canada in federal and provincial institutions was unknown. Our 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.
We recruited 835 participants, both incarcerated individuals and staff, across the 10 sites. Our study goals include determining how many individuals in these settings have had COVID-19, and identifying where asymptomatic infections may have occurred.
We are also asking participants about the psychosocial impacts of quarantine or medical isolation, how they tried to lessen these impacts, and if they used coping strategies to address the additional psychosocial stresses of COVID-19.
There are often fewer job and housing prospects for incarcerated individuals after their release from a correctional facility. These issues have been exacerbated by the pandemic, which increases the challenge of reintegration into society. Informing individuals of their COVID-19 status may help provide reassurance for returning to their communities, and seeking housing and employment.
Our research results will also help assess current policies and procedures in BC Corrections with respect to COVID-19 and create a benchmark for future assessments of its prevalence.
Results: Accelerating SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Surveys Through Dried Blood Spots (COVID-19 ASSESS-DBS study)
A CITF-funded study, published in Scientific Reports, found that only 48% of people who use drugs (PWUD) had received at least two SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses at baseline in September 2021, much lower than in the general population (70%) in British Columbia at that time.
A finger prick to test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies
A team of Vancouver investigators, led by Dr. Agatha Jassem of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and partially funded by the CITF, assessed SARS-CoV-2 serological testing using two methods: finger pricking (dried blood spot or DBS) and traditional venipuncture (blood draw with a needle).
Alexander Wong
Alexander Wong, MD, FRCPC
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Saskatchewan
Infectious Diseases Specialist at Saskatchewan Health Authority
Contact info
alexander.wong@usask.ca
Key words
Infectious diseases
COVID-19
HIV
viral hepatitis (B & C) research
persons who inject or use drugs
persons with addictions
persons who are incarcerated
Research interests
COVID-19
HIV
Viral hepatitis (B & C)
Addictions medicine
Marginalized populations
The serologic prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 amongst incarcerated persons in provincial correctional facilities in Saskatchewan
Correctional facilities have significant movement of incarcerated individuals in and out at any given time, and within provincial facilities the number and turnover of incarcerated individuals is higher than in federal facilities. In general, incarcerated individuals suffer from social and economic vulnerabilities which place them at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. Understanding how many people in correctional facilities have had COVID-19 and where infections may have occurred can contribute to more effective prevention strategies and inform vaccine planning.
Our aim is to measure the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among incarcerated individuals in Regina, Saskatchewan. We are following 400 participants, and will determine how many have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, and identify the socioeconomic and housing insecurity issues associated with an increased incidence of COVID-19 among these individuals. We are also asking participants if they have received a COVID-19 vaccine.
The stigma of having a positive COVID-19 antibody test in a correctional facility is considerable, so we are making significant efforts to ensure that results remain confidential. Ensuring informed consent, privacy and fairness are of utmost importance, and we are prioritizing community stakeholder engagement in the research project including working with a representative family and advisory group to inform our research.
Our work will benefit the participants by informing them of their SARS-CoV-2 status and will also contribute to the federal and provincial studies simultaneously underway to understand the extent of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in correctional settings. This work may also serve as a surrogate for the degree of SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in similar populations outside of correctional settings.
Jim Worthington
Coming soon.
SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in federal and provincial correctional services in Canada
Correctional facilities are congregate settings where there is increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. Furthermore, incarcerated individuals have been identified as a population at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 given the prevalence of pre-existing health issues. COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred at several federal facilities in Canada, but the level of undetected infection has been generally unknown.
Our 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).
All staff and incarcerated individuals from six CSC facilities that experienced a COVID-19 outbreak were invited to enroll in the study. Incarcerated individuals who tested seropositive were invited for up to five further tests to measure changes in their antibodies. Enrollment was voluntary, and participants were informed about their test results in strict confidence.
The findings from our study will benefit affected incarcerated individuals and CSC staff by providing them with knowledge of their SARS-CoV-2 antibody status. The study will help determine the level of previously undetected asymptomatic infections and the duration of antibodies, which may inform public health measures.
Indigenous
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mark Loeb, MD
Professor, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, and Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University
Medical Microbiologist and Infectious Disease Physician
Contact info
loebm@mcmaster.ca
Key words
Clinical trials
Cohort study
Hutterite
Vaccination
Community transmission
Research interests
Randomized trials
COVID-19
Influenza
COVID-19 Vaccination and Community Protection: A Cohort Study in Hutterite Colonies
Prospective cohort studies of COVID-19 where members of multiple entire cities or towns are enrolled are usually not feasible, however our study is following several Hutterite colonies. Most Hutterites live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba where they practice communal farming on small colonies relatively isolated from towns and cities. Within these homogeneous, moderately-sized colonies, the communal lifestyle facilitates regular transmission of respiratory viruses. Our study aims to understand the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on community COVID-19 transmission in Hutterite colonies in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
We are following Hutterite colony members for a total of 18 months. We are collecting blood samples for antibody testing and obtaining regular nasal swab samples for COVID-19 testing. We are also recording the instance of COVID-19 vaccination among participants, and using statistical modeling to understand the levels of COVID-19 vaccination required to achieve protection in the Hutterite colonies and assessing the impact of the various vaccines that have been administered.
Findings from this cohort study will inform policy makers about the extent to which COVID-19 vaccination interrupts transmission of the virus within communities.
Sonia Anand
Sonia Savitri Anand
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, McMaster University
Vascular Medicine Specialist, Hamilton Health Sciences
Associate Chair Equity, Diversity, Department of Medicine, McMaster
Senior Scientist, Population Health Research Institute
Contact info
anands@mcmaster.ca
Key words
Ethnicity
Chronic diseases
Population health
Research interests
Ethnicity and cardiovascular disease
Sex and gender
Social determinants of health
Vaccine Access, Uptake, Effectiveness and Safety in First Nations Communities
In a study called “Vaccine Access, Uptake, Effectiveness and Safety in First Nations Communities – COVID CommUNITY Study – First Nations”, the COVID CommUNITY – First Nations study team at the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences is partnering with three FN communities—Six Nations of Grand River, Ontario; Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Saskatchewan; and Wendake, Quebec—as well as researchers at the University of Saskatchewan and Université Laval to collect, analyze, and report new data related to COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and safety.
Researchers are following men and women, age 18 and older, in these communities to determine:
- their immune response to COVID-19 infection and vaccine over time,
- the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines over time,
- access to, level of trust, and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, and
- the contextual factors that can affect COVID-19 immune response and risk of infection (e.g. socioeconomic status, Indigenous determinants of health, household density, occupation type, knowledge or uncertainties about the vaccines, and other chronic diseases).
Vaccine hesitancy is a significant concern among some communities, and our results will contribute to increasing the levels of trust regarding COVID-19 vaccines through culturally safe vaccine research.
Martin Cooke
Martin Cooke
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Legal Studies and School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo
Associate Dean, University of Waterloo Faculty of Arts
Contact info
cooke@uwaterloo.ca
Key words
Indigenous peoples, Métis, vaccination, COVID-19
Research interests
Social demography
Population health
What impacts COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Métis Citizens in Ontario? A population-based data linkage study
Individual decisions about vaccination among the general population are affected by many factors including previous experiences with vaccination, risk/benefit assessments of vaccination and ease of access. Among Indigenous Peoples, broader factors also impact this decision including historic, institutional and political factors, however little is known about factors affecting vaccination decisions among Métis. Accounting for one third of Indigenous people in Canada, the Métis are a distinct Indigenous identity with their own language and cultural traditions; they have varied experiences with systemic racism and oppression, historically being neither accepted among Europeans nor recognized as Indigenous.
As COVID-19 vaccines have rolled out across Canada, there has been a high level of vaccine hesitancy in minority populations including Métis. The Métis have been referred to as a “hidden” Indigenous People reflecting not only their history but the lack of Métis-specific health research. It is particularly important to explore their reasons for vaccinating or not since, compared to the non-Indigenous population, they have higher rates of underlying medical conditions such as COPD, asthma, congestive heart failure, and diabetes – conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
This study, called What impacts COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Métis Citizens in Ontario? A population-based data linkage study, will identify factors that impact COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Ontario Métis. Researchers will link a population-based survey led by the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), which collected information on the psychological barriers to vaccination behaviour among Ontario Métis using a standard scale, to administrative data on uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario (COVax Ontario dataset).
This research, along with consultations with MNO citizens and leadership, may inform efforts needed to ensure optimal uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the Métis and support equitable access to the vaccines in Ontario.
Sangita Sharma
Sangita Sharma
Alberta Health Services Chair in Indigenous Health, Professor in Indigenous and Global Health Research, University of Alberta
Contact info
gita.sharma@ualberta.ca
Key words
Indigenous health
Arctic populations
COVID-19
Vaccine safety and effectiveness
Community-based participatory research
Research interests
Population health intervention and disease prevention
Patient experience and access and utilization of healthcare services
Vaccine hesitancy
COVID-19 prevention strategies
Assessing the impact of the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in Indigenous populations in Arctic Canada
Indigenous Peoples in Northwest Territories (NT) face greater risk of difficult challenges with COVID-19 due to limited healthcare services, overcrowded housing, geographic isolation, and pre-existing chronic health conditions. Vaccination programs in NT began in January 2021 and NT’s vaccination rate is comparable to the Canadian average.
This project, called “Assessing the impact of the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in Indigenous populations in Arctic Canada”, which partners with Indigenous organizations and leaders, Elders, and the Government of NT throughout every stage of the project along with guidance from a large Community Advisory Board, has the aim of collecting information from Indigenous Peoples in 10 NT communities. The project embraces Indigenous methodologies and Two-Eyed Seeing, which describes the ability to see a situation from one eye with Indigenous knowledge, wisdom, and ways of knowing, and from the other with Western knowledge, using both eyes together for the benefit of all.
The project team includes trained local Indigenous community research assistants who have been trained and employed to collect vaccine follow-up information by telephone including medium- and long-term side effects from more than 350 people, utilizing any of the preferred Indigenous languages.
Data collection will be undertaken in each community twice. The communities and Community Advisory Board have approved the protocols, methods, and questionnaires.
The results from this project will provide important information about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for Indigenous Peoples in NT communities and can be used to inform policy and the development of programs and services.
Lynnette Lucas
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Director of Health, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Port Alberni, BC
Contact info
Lynnette.lucas@nuuchahnulth.org
Key words
Indigenous health
Ethics
Knowledge translation
Research interests
Indigenous health
Jeff Reading
Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Researcher, St. Paul’s Hospital Department of Cardiology, Vancouver, BC
BC First Nations Health Authority Chair in Heart Health
Contact info
jlr6@sfu.ca
Key words
Population and public health
Ethics
Knowledge translation
Global health
Research interests
Indigenous health
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council COVID-19 Vaccine Study into Immune Response, Effectiveness, Safety
The Nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth, NCN) are one of the Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific coast of Canada. The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) supports and serves 14 NCN Nations with approximately 10,000 members, and the NTC Nursing Services department (hupiimin wiikšaḥiiy’ap) manages and administers the COVID-19 vaccine across the NCN nations.
The NCN Nations’ goal in conducting this study is to determine the extent to which community members including children, youth, healthy adults, people living with chronic health conditions and Elders are protected by the COVID-19 vaccine, how this protection changes over time, and the extent of negative side effects of the vaccine. This will support current and future planning of health services and programs.
Through collecting blood samples from 5,000 people at two points in time, we are looking at differences in antibody concentrations after vaccination between people according to nation, region, age, sex, co-morbidity, and social/structural determinants of wellness, and how antibodies change over time. A smaller sample of participants is being further tested for additional information on antibody immunity. We are measuring vaccine effectiveness, with individual permission, from COVID testing and vaccination records and, with community permission, from anonymized data. We are also collecting information on community members’ experience with our vaccination program and with the COVID-19 pandemic in general.
To understand the full context of the NTC vaccination drive, we are gathering stories on how the communities mobilized to address the pandemic and how they maintain vigilance as booster shots become available. These qualitative findings will be translated and shared to inform decision-making around booster vaccinations and public health messaging to address a SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 endemic.
The NTC partnered with an academic research team at Simon Fraser University (SFU) to develop this study, which deepens a long-standing reciprocal research partnership with SFU and forges a new collaborative health governance model in public health and between the NCN and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
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.
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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.
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Daniel Grace
Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Canada Research Chair in Sexual and Gender Minority Health
Contact info
Daniel.Grace@utoronto.ca
Key words
HIV prevention
Sociology
Sexual and gender minority health
Public health
Mental health
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
Qualitative
Mixed methods
COVID-19
Research interests
Mixed methods program of community-engaged research advancing the social, mental, physical, and sexual health of sexual and gender minorities.
Understandings of how biomedical HIV prevention and public health interventions have informed community programs, health policy, and legislation at provincial, national, and international levels.
Research program is comprised of three interrelated areas, with a primary focus on Canadian gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, and queer men:
- Understanding the social and sexual impacts of advancements in biomedical HIV and STI treatment and prevention (Individual and Community Levels);
- Investigating ways to improve access to sexual and mental healthcare including the implementation of novel diagnostic technologies (Healthcare Systems Level);
- Explicating the role of law, policy, and intersectional systems of structural oppression that contribute to health inequities, healthcare access barriers, and experiences of stigma and discrimination (Structural and Policy Levels).
The COVID-19 pandemic and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
Failure to respond to the health and wellness needs of GBM may have significant negative effects on COVID-19 outcomes and exacerbate existing health disparities. “Engage-COVID-19” — a mixed-methods study of biomedical, behavioural, and psychosocial aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic among GBM in Canada ¬— responds to pressing knowledge gaps.
Our study explores the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic, including how COVID-19 is impacting mental health outcomes, experiences of loneliness, sexual behaviours, substance use patterns, and access to essential health care.
Engage-COVID-19 is embedded within the Engage Cohort Study, a Canadian collaboration of researchers and community-based organizations on HIV and sexual health among GBM. Our study takes place in Canada’s three largest cities — Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver — and involves the recruitment of more than 1,800 participants, who are invited to have SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing and complete an in-depth survey that will include COVID-specific quantitative questions. From this group, we are recruiting 90 individuals for qualitative interviews.
These data will help us better understand COVID-19 risks, vulnerabilities, and prevention strategies, as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on health service access and different levels of HIV/STI risk across provinces. We will produce rapid, high-quality evidence that will inform Canada’s public health response across jurisdictions.
Results: The COVID-19 pandemic and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
A CITF-funded study, published in Critical Public Health, reported that COVID-19 public health interventions based on cis-heteronormative sociality negatively affected the sense of belonging and identity formation of gay, bisexual, and queer men (GBQM) in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
A paper, published in Health & Social Care in the Community, reported that trans, nonbinary, and other gender nonconforming (TGNC) participants in the CITF-funded Engage COVID-19 study experienced significant barriers to healthcare during COVID-19 in Canada.
A CITF-funded study, published in Social and Personality Psychology Compass, found that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) likely adapted their sexual activity in line with COVID-19 concerns/public health guidelines.
A CITF-funded led study, published in the International Journal of Equity Health, found that many gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men (GBQM) of colour faced discrimination during COVID-19.
A CITF-funded study, published in Sociology of Health and Illness, discovered that virtual care (healthcare at home using mainly telephone consultations) not only helps with delivering and receiving medical care but also brings about changes in the ways that people interact and provide care.
How sexual minority men have adapted their sexual behaviours during the pandemic
In a CITF-funded study published in Culture, Health, and Sexuality, Dr. Daniel Grace (University of Toronto) and his team addressed how public health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the sexual practices of gay, bisexual, queer, and other sexual minority men.
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) often experience significant health disparities that may act as barriers to needed health services.
Nathan Lachowsky
Associate Professor, University of Victoria
Research Director, Community Based Research Centre
Key words
2SLGBTQQIA+ people
sexual and gender minorities
community-based research
enhanced surveillance
health equity
Research interests
Championing interdisciplinary and community-based approaches, I conduct research within a social justice framework in order to achieve health equity for marginalized communities.
My research focuses on social and behavioural epidemiology and the importance of developing and analyzing mixed methods data to inform public health practice, health service provision, interventions, and policy.
COVID-19 among sexual- and gender-marginalized populations in Canada
Our national project spans all jurisdictions (urban and non-urban); it will assess and inform a more coherent and coordinated response. Our interdisciplinary team is comprised of research and community leaders who have extensive experience with 2SLGBTQQI+ communities.
We are conducting an online survey of 2SLGBTQQI+ people across Canada to determine how COVID-19 impacts them. We have operationalized an inclusive, community-based approach to reduce barriers to participation for participants, many of whom are often ignored and excluded in mainstream research.
Participants can also opt-in to be mailed a kit to collect a few blood drops, and they will have the option to receive the test results for SARS-CoV-2. This approach may be an important tool for future COVID-19 testing, especially among rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.
Our findings will inform culturally safe public health policy and programs — to prevent future infections and manage public health responses in subsequent COVID-19 waves that will avoid unintended consequences, such as intimate partner and family/domestic violence, anxiety, and depression.
Our study will stimulate more purposeful and solution-driven national discussions about COVID-19 responses with respect to diverse 2SLGBTQQI+ communities.
Results: COVID-19 among sexual- and gender-marginalized populations in Canada
A CITF-funded study, published in Critical Public Health, reported that COVID-19 public health interventions based on cis-heteronormative sociality negatively affected the sense of belonging and identity formation of gay, bisexual, and queer men (GBQM) in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
A CITF-funded study, published in Social and Personality Psychology Compass, found that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) likely adapted their sexual activity in line with COVID-19 concerns/public health guidelines.
CITF-funded findings from studies of diverse populations
Many CITF-funded studies focus on Canadian populations as diverse as people experiencing homelessness, incarcerated individuals, people admitted to emergency units, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities.
An ongoing cohort study that received funding from the CITF for a sub-study has found that many gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) had experienced or had perpetrated intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime.
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) often experience significant health disparities that may act as barriers to needed health services.
