Pediatric Studies
Safety and immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in pediatric autoimmune diseases (SUCCEED KIDS)
Children with autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and childhood arthritis are at significant risk of disease flares in response to immune system triggers, which include infections and vaccines.
Research summary
COVID-19 seroepidemiology among children using retrieved POPCORN site leftover blood samples (CURNLS)
This study is the largest serosurvey of children and youth in Canada. Researchers are testing existing blood samples from patients aged 0 to 18 who visit one of 16 hospital emergency departments that are members of the POPCORN network to identify whether they have had COVID-19 and whether they have immunity from infection or vaccination.
Research summary
Immune Response in Young ImmunoSuppressed children to COVID-19 vaccination (IRYIS)
This research is studying the immune response and duration of protection of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines in children less than 11 years of age with inherited or treatment-induced immune deficiencies to help determine the number of vaccine doses required for optimal protection in immunocompromised children and guide vaccination recommendations.
Research summary Results
Understanding Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination in Children aged 5-11 years: Expansion of existing CITF-supported pediatric studies
This study expands on four existing CITF-supported pediatric studies to comprehensively address questions related to adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in children aged 5 to 11 years old.
Research summary
Active surveillance for COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness among Canadian children: A Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive (IMPACT) Project
This study aims to track the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in children and youth as they become approved for use in this age group. Researchers are also studying whether vaccination is linked to fewer children and adolescents being admitted to hospital for COVID-19 and fewer cases of the disease overall.
Research summary
Rapid research in the CHILD Cohort to inform Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Building off the CHILD Cohort Study which tracks 3,500 families in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, this study aims to provide real-time data to public health authorities about infection, symptoms, transmission, and immunity in 12,000 Canadians (CHILD children, siblings, parents) in these four provinces.
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The TARGet Kids! COVID-19 study of children and families: Safe return to school, work, and play
This study pivots TARGet Kids! — Canada’s largest ongoing children’s study — to focus on gathering high-quality, real-time data to monitor, quantify, and characterize COVID-19 infection among children and parents.
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The SPRING Study: SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and young adults in British Columbia
The SPRING Study aims to understand the true rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and young adults in British Columbia, most notably, by including information from children with asymptomatic infection.
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The EnCORE Study: Studying seroprevalence in Montreal school
The EnCORE Study is a research project estimating how many young people in Montreal have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, they are studying 2- to 17-year-olds in daycares, elementary schools, and high schools randomly selected in four Montreal neighbourhoods.
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A Prospective Pan-Canadian Cohort Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Disease Severity and Association with Long-Term Symptoms in Children
This study extends and expands on two ongoing COVID-19 studies to collect acute and long-term data on children. Researchers are following children who test positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2 in emergency departments and will compare whether certain variants lead to a greater disease severity. They will also quantify the development of long-term symptoms (long COVID) in children with COVID-19.
Research summary Results
From idea to reality: COVID-19 Vaccination for Children and Youth
This study builds on work with TARGet Kids! to understand COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and safety among 2,000 children and youth (0 to 16 years old), and their parents. The team is looking at COVID-19 vaccine uptake and is working to understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and decision-making among parents and healthcare providers in order to inform vaccination policies.
Research summary
Post COVID hyperinflammation (MIS-C): A syndrome beyond the name
Some children who have had COVID-19 infection develop Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), an uncontrolled post-COVID-19 inflammation. This study is using machine learning and artificial intelligence strategies to analyze and integrate complex biologic and clinical data in order to rapidly diagnose MIS-C and identify the children at highest risk.
Research summary
Optimizing COVID-19 immunization in patients with adverse events following immunization and patients with immunosuppression in the Special Immunization Clinic Network (SIC)
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
COVID-19 lockdowns may be to blame for off-season resurgences of respiratory syncytial virus
This study, an extension of one focussing on education workers in Vancouver, aims to determine how immunity conferred by hybrid immunity differs from the immunity conferred by an infection alone, to compare re-infection rates between individuals with hybrid versus vaccine immunity; and to determine the long-term health impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections among school staff.
Research summary Results
