Hybrid immunity protects against cell-to-cell spread of SARS-CoV-2
In this study, published in preprint and not yet peer-reviewed, Dr. Michael Grant (Memorial University of Newfoundland) and his team in collaboration with Dr. Richard Stanton (Cardiff University, United Kingdom) showed that hybrid immunity confers greater protection against cell-to-cell spread of SARS-CoV-2 than vaccination alone.
Third and fourth doses of monovalent and bivalent COVID-19 vaccines provide similar, strong protection against severe outcomes in those 50+
A CITF-funded study, published in preprint and not-yet peer-reviewed, reported that third and fourth doses of monovalent and bivalent mRNA vaccines provided similar strong protection against severe outcomes from COVID-19 among community-dwelling adults over the age of 50.
Third and fourth doses build durable and important immune responses in older Canadians
A CITF-funded study, published in iScience, found that third and fourth vaccine doses yielded significant and durable antibody responses in community-dwelling older Canadians, comparable to the levels observed in younger adults.
SARS-CoV-2 infections spiked in children during the Omicron period
A CITF-funded study, published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, found that seroprevalence among children and adolescents in Montreal was 5.8% pre-Omicron (October 2020 to April 2021), spiking to 11.0% during the Omicron era (November 2021 until March 2022).
Circulating proteins are reasonably accurate predictors of COVID-19 severity
A CITF-funded study, published in Scientific Reports, found circulating proteins measured in the early stages of disease progression are reasonably accurate predictors of COVID-19 severity.
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus was not very common among healthcare students
A CITF-funded study published in Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology suggests that despite a high risk of exposure because of their face-to-face teaching requirements, very few students in healthcare programs caught SARS-CoV-2 during the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings show clear advantages of Moderna vaccine for long-term care residents
A CITF-funded study published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (JAMDA), led by Drs. Dawn Bowdish and Andrew Costa from McMaster University, showed that among residents of long-term care facilities, there was a lower risk of an Omicron infection.
A perspective on observed negative vaccine effectiveness
A perspective, published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases by authors of this CITF-funded study, reported that various biases in how data are collected and analyzed could lead to false negative conclusions regarding vaccine effectiveness (VE).
Understanding community perceptions related to COVID-19 risks and vaccine acceptance
A CITF-funded study that focused on the South Asian community, now published in BMJ Open, and led by Dr. Sonia Anand (McMaster University) demonstrated that understanding factors such as community dynamics, language, and cultural context can help build vaccine confidence and acceptance among diverse populations.