Vaccination helps reduce workplace absenteeism among Canadian healthcare workers
A CITF-funded study, published in the Journal of Occupation and Environmental Medicine, found that Canadian healthcare workers who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test and were vaccinated against COVID-19 were less absent from work.
Fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is highly immunogenic and safe in people who have received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
A CITF-funded study, published in Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, found that a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is highly immunogenic (induces a good immune response) and safe in people who have a received an allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT).
CITF-funded findings on seroprevalence and effects of COVID-19 on children and adolescents
Ongoing monitoring of the serological status of children is important, particularly in the context of new variants of concern, low vaccine coverage, and low uptake of testing. Here, members of the CITF Secretariat summarize results from the four presentations given during the breakout session, “Seroprevalence and effects of COVID-19 on children and adolescents,” at the CITF Scientific Meeting in Vancouver, March 8-10, 2023.
CITF-funded findings on accelerated research in long-term care settings
Studying the immune responses of older Canadians to infections and to vaccines has helped to inform the appropriate timing for booster vaccines in this vulnerable population, especially those living in long-term care (LTC) homes.
Respiratory syncytial virus antibody functions diminished during peak of COVID-19 pandemic, causing more severe RSV infections
A CITF-funded study, published in preprint and not-yet peer-reviewed, found that the almost complete absence of RSV circulation during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures led to waning antibody-mediated and cellular responses that protect against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
Predictors of Post COVID-19 Condition
A CITF-funded study, published in preprint and not yet peer-reviewed, found positive associations between Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC), also known as Long COVID, and anti-spike (S), and anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG titres, which were not statistically significant.
Vaccines can induce SARS-CoV-2 neutralization in people living with HIV
A CITF-funded study, published in AIDS, found that vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 neutralization capacity was similar between people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV-negative people without past COVID-19 infection.
Early Omicron infection is associated with increased reinfection risk in older adults
A CITF-funded study, published in eClinicalMedicine found that residents of long-term care and retirement homes who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection early in the Omicron wave were more susceptible to get infected with a later Omicron variant than those who had never been infected or who had been infected with pre-Omicron variants.
Antibodies decay faster following SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals 90 years and older
A CITF-funded study, published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, reported that individuals 90 years and older had higher levels of infection-acquired SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and more efficient antibody neutralization than younger groups (under 65, and 65-89), but their antibodies decayed at a faster rate.