Vaccine Surveillance

Canadian National Vaccine Safety (CANVAS) network

Julie Bettinger, Dalhousie University

Since 2009, the Canadian National Vaccine Safety (CANVAS) network—part of the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN)—has been conducting active safety surveillance for vaccines. Using this existing framework, CANVAS is monitoring the safety of COVID-19 vaccines across Canada by determining how often health events occur after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Research summary Results Study website

Characterization of COVID-19 vaccine safety epidemiology and safety signal detection for adverse events following immunization in Alberta

Alexander Doroshenko, University of Alberta

This study aims to strengthen the existing capacity of Alberta’s public health system to record and study adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination. Researchers are specifically studying adverse events among individuals such as Indigenous People and people from economically vulnerable backgrounds for whom reliable information may be difficult to obtain.
Research summary

Monitoring immune response in the context of COVID-19 vaccination – Establishment of a longitudinal cohort of plasma donors

Marc Germain, Héma-Québec

Given Héma-Québec’s opportunity to collect repeat blood and plasma samples, we have launched a biobank of samples from plasma donors. The samples collected allow the, to gather information before and after vaccination, and in some cases before and after COVID-19 infection, to allow both their researchers and other researchers in Canada to study the immune response to COVID-19 vaccination or infection.
Research summary

Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) Provincial Collaborative Network (PCN) COVID-19 Vaccine Post-Market Studies

Jeff Kwong, University of Toronto

Using linkable databases in five provinces, this study aims to estimate COVID-19 vaccine coverage, determine if vaccinated people are more likely than unvaccinated people to experience adverse events, and evaluate the effectiveness of different vaccines and dosing schedules, the impact of previous COVID-19 infection, and how long protection lasts.
Research summary Results

Immunogenicity and adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with alternate schedules of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada: is “mix and match” of the second dose (MOSAIC-1) and a heterologous third dose (MOSAIC-2) safe and immunogenic?

Joanne Langley, Dalhousie University

This study is following participants in five provinces to determine the safety and efficacy of combining different vaccines (mixing and matching), as well as determine the effects of different dosing intervals used in Canada on immunity and safety.
Research summary

Best Practices for Distributed-Network Studies of Vaccine Safety and Efficacy

Robert Platt, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital

This project is focused on developing and implementing solutions to methodological problems that arise in studies related to vaccine safety and efficacy. The researchers’ aim is to support organizations and researchers using their existing library of methods for drug safety and effectiveness and to develop recommended practices for vaccine safety and efficacy studies in distributed networks.
Research summary

Optimizing COVID-19 immunization in patients with adverse events following immunization andpatients with immunosuppression in the Special Immunization Clinic Network (SIC)

Karina Top, Dalhousie University

The success of mass COVID-19 vaccine campaigns depends on the ongoing evaluation of both the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. This study aims to support public health agencies in standardizing the evaluation and management of patients with unexpected, severe and serious rare adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) to COVID-19 vaccines.
Research summary Results

Allison McGeer

Are there post-vaccination antibody levels that correlate with protection against COVID19? (AB-Protect)

Allison McGeer, Sinai Health System

This study aims to understand whether there is an antibody correlate of protection associated with vaccination against COVID-19 and its variants. The project complements existing vaccine effectiveness studies and focuses on identifying people who develop COVID-19 infection despite having been vaccinated to better understand their antibody levels.
Research summary

Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network: Real-World Vaccine Effectiveness and Duration of Protection in Special Populations

Corinne Hohl, University of British Columbia

Using an existing network and infrastructure available in hospital emergency departments (EDs) in eight provinces, this study is creating a national vaccine evaluation platform to collect data on vaccination status and answer questions about how well COVID-19 vaccines work. They seek to evaluate vaccine effectiveness and how long this protection lasts in populations which commonly receive care in EDs.
Research summary Results

Sentinel surveillance for serious adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and assessment of COVID-19 effectivenes for the prevention of serious outcomes among hospitalized Canadian adults: A study of the Serious Outcomes Surveillance (SOS) Network of the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN)

Shelly McNeil, Nova Scotia Health Authority

This study sees the SOS Network conduct enhanced surveillance for COVID-19, providing a detailed description of the clinical characteristics, severity of illness, and outcomes of adults hospitalized with COVID-19. They are also providing public health officials with critical information regarding serious adverse events following immunization (AEFI).
Research summary Results

See our other funded research studies

See our other funded research studies