Perceptions and experiences of Canadian dental hygienists during the pandemic
A CITF-funded study published in BMC Health Services Research, showed that Canadian dental hygienists identified conflicting messaging from regulators and guideline interpretations as stressors impacting their professional practice and satisfaction in December 2020, early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Derivation and validation of a clinical score to risk-stratify COVID-19 patients discharged from the emergency department
A CITF-funded study published in JACEP Open, showed that the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network (CCEDRRN) COVID discharge score can identify patients at risk of hospital admission or death within 72 hours of emergency department discharge. This study was led by Dr. Corinne Hohl (University of British Columbia).
The microbiome may play a powerful role in vaccine-induced immunity
In a letter published in Gut, Drs. Genelle Healey, Bruce Vallance and CITF-funded researcher Dr. Pascal Lavoie (University of British Columbia) and their team identified a link between the composition of one’s gut microbiota and COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity.
COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity in people with HIV
A CITF-funded study, published in AIDS and led by Drs. Cecilia Costiniuk (McGill University) and Aslam Anis (University of British Columbia, found that vaccine-induced antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were elicited in over 90% of people living with HIV (PLWS). Of those, most (92%), maintained those antibodies for six months following a second dose, although this percentage is less than it was for HIV-negative controls.
Striking differences in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence across Canada by social determinants of health
In a paper published in Microbiology Spectrum, CITF-funded researchers, including at Canadian Blood Services, showed that infection-acquired immunity to SARS-CoV-2 varied, in 2021, by age, region, racial group, the neighbourhoods in which people lived and whether they were materially or socially deprived (had fewer contacts). Interestingly, these factors were not consistent throughout all provinces and regions.
Infection-acquired seroprevalence exceeded 70% by the end of November: Canadian Blood Services.
Among Canadian Blood donors, the infection-acquired seroprevalence continued to rise in the month of November 2022, to 71%, up from 67.4%, at the end of October.
Kidney transplant recipients do not produce as robust an antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines as otherwise healthy individuals
CITF-funded research from Drs. Matthew Oliver and Michelle Hladunewich (University of Toronto), now published in Transplantation Direct, found that over 50% of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) lacked Omicron-specific neutralizing antibodies one month following a third vaccine dose. Antibody levels in those that developed the Omicron-specific antibodies were well preserved at 3 months.
Vaccine-induced immune responses are as durable in people living with HIV as in people without HIV
A CITF-funded study published in AIDS, from Mark Brockman and Zabrina Brumme (Simon Fraser University and BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS), along with Drs. Aslam Anis and Marc Romney (University of British Columbia) showed that the antibody responses induced by a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine were as durable in people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) as in individuals without HIV.
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.