The Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases has hosted a series of webinars throughout the various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring CVPD-affiliated U of T Faculty, as well as leading scientists and public health experts from across Canada, and globally.
Throughout this webinar series, topics have approached COVID-19 through the lens of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases’ pillars: Burden of disease trends and vaccine impact, immunization science and diagnostics, vaccine access and policy, and vaccine confidence, practice, and communication.
Reports
Pharmacy’s Contribution to Vaccination Within an Integrated Health System Report
In our current climate, fraught with vaccination fatigue, decreased vaccine confidence and barriers to immunization access, it is more challenging than ever to meet/maintain adequate vaccine coverage. The CVPD partnered with Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy (University of Toronto), the School of Pharmacy (University of Waterloo) and the Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network (OPEN) to host a stakeholder discussion about the role of pharmacists as vaccinators in Ontario on October 10, 2023.
This meeting brought together pharmacists, physicians, public health practitioners, policymakers and community members to discuss programmatic challenges and opportunities for innovation. The result was a thought-provoking event that provided new ideas for improving immunization coverage in Ontario.
This report summarizes: Expert insight on the barriers to vaccine uptake, an overview of pharmacy-based immunization services, innovative approaches to vaccination and ideas from attendees on opportunities for the future.
Maintaining Immunizations for School-Age Children During COVID-19 Report
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the delivery of routine childhood vaccines in primary care settings and schools in Ontario. To prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, a comprehensive catch-up strategy is needed to close these gaps in immunization coverage. A multi-pronged, and transparent approach that engages six key stakeholder groups must be undertaken to ensure equitable and efficient access to catch-up immunizations for Ontario children.
In summer 2021, the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of Toronto, and the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University hosted an roundtable session with experts and stakeholders from across Ontario to discuss maintaining immunizations for school-age children during COVID-19.
The objectives of the roundtable session were to identify opportunities:
- To uncover vaccine coverage gaps effectively and efficiently
- To highlight best practices from Ontario and other jurisdictions regarding the implementation of school-based vaccinations during the pandemic
- To identify potential solutions to support an equitable Ontario-wide approach to alleviate vaccination gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2021-2022 school year
View the full Maintaining Immunizations for School-Age Children During COVID-19 Report
Additional Resources:
- Maintaining Immunizations for School-Age Children During COVID-19 Report Infographic Package
- A Caregiver’s Guide to Safeguarding School-aged Children’s Health Through Vaccination
Training | Published Nov. 29th, 2023
This online training session on recommended vaccines for long term care residents was presented in partnership with the Michael Garron Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Hub. This session was a follow up event to in-person training for vaccinators in LTC settings held at the Ontario Science Centre.
Speakers: Dr. Shelly Bolotin and Dr. Ramandip Grewal
Webinar | Published June 19th, 2023
This webinar looks at how Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) data can be used to identify vaccine coverage gaps in older adults and inform policies that improve vaccine uptake in this demographic.
Speaker: Dr. Giorgia Sulis
Webinar | Published May 10th, 2023
This webinar provides a high-level overview of vaccine effectiveness (VE), including discussion of how VE calculations have been applied to recent decision making for COVID-19 immunizations.
Speakers: Dr. Sarah Buchan and Dr. Ramandip Grewal
Webinar | Published April 20th, 2023
A first look at UNICEF’s latest findings on immunizations, and a discussion about the current status of routine immunization coverage in Canada.
Co-hosted by: CVPD and UNICEF Canada
Webinar | Published April 18th, 2023
Looking back over the past three years, what went well and what could have been improved? This special fireside chat explored this question with two leaders who shaped Canada’s vaccine programs.
Speakers: Dr. Shelley Deeks and Dr. Roman Szumski
Webinar | Published Oct. 5th, 2022
This discussion focused on building an off-the-shelf system for vaccine safety to address emerging issues. Speakers included Julie Kerr and Steve Black and moderators Dr. Shelly Bolotin, Dr. Manish Sandaragani and Dr. Jeff Kwong.
Co-hosted by: CVPD and Canadian Association for Immunization Research, Evaluation and Education (CAIRE)
Webinar | Published May 3, 2022
This panel discussion explores the issue of Human Challenge Trials: Moving Vaccine Development Forward? Speakers included Dr. Christopher Chiu, Dr. Scott Halperin, and moderators Dr. Shelly Bolotin and Dr. Manish Sadarangani
Co-hosted by: CVPD and Canadian Association for Immunization Research, Evaluation and Education (CAIRE)
Webinar | Published April 26, 2022 (World Immunization Week)
This panel discussion explores the issue of the Road to Recovery for Routine Immunization: Lessons from COVID-19. Speakers included Dr. Ephrem T. Lemango, Julia Anderson, and moderator Dr. Shelly Bolotin.
Co-hosted by: CVPD and UNICEF Canada
Webinar | Published Jan. 24, 2022
This panel discussion will explore the issue of Community Outreach and Engagement in the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout. Speakers included Sophia Ikura, Dr. Nicole Blackman, Francis Garwe and moderator, Dr. Shelly Bolotin.
Hosted by: CVPD
Webinar | Published Oct. 25, 2021
This panel discussion will provide an overview and updates on COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity, safety surveillance, and vaccine effectiveness in Canada. Speakers included Dr. Jeff Kwong, Dr. Philip Awadalla, and Dr. Natalia Abraham.
Hosted by: CVPD
Seminar | May 10, 2021 – Dr. Ann Burchell
Vaccination among people living with and at risk for HIV
Seminar | May 3, 2021 – Dr. Deshayne Fell
Immunization during pregnancy: Where have we been, where are we now, where are we going?
Webinar | Published April 29, 2021 (World Immunization Week)
This panel discussion explored the factors that are impacting health system delivery response during COVID-19, and why equitable relationships between global actors and governments are important, spanning from global to local perspectives. Speakers included David Morley, C.M., Onome Ako and moderator, Dr. Ross E. G. Upshur.
Hosted by: CVPD, Institute for Pandemics, and UNICEF Canada
Webinar | Published April 26, 2021 (World Immunization Week)
This panel discussion explored how vaccine effectiveness is studied, what the impact of real-life vaccine effectiveness studies is, as well as what vaccine infrastructure exists in Canada, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers included Dr. Jeff Kwong, Dr. Nicole Basta, and Dr. Melissa Andrew.
Hosted by: CVPD
Seminar | March 22, 2021 – Dr. Senjuti Saha
Tackling Paediatric Infections in Low-Resource Settings
Webinar | Published: Feb. 8, 2021
This panel discussion explored the COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance landscape in Canada. Speakers included Dr. Sarah Wilson, Dr. Julie Bettinger, Dr. Karina Top, and moderator Dr. Jeff Kwong, interim CVPD Director.
Hosted by: CVPD
Webinar | Published: Dec. 7, 2020
This panel discussion explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted delivery of routine immunizations in Canada, and how to improve access to routine immunizations in Canada during and beyond the pandemic. Speakers included Dr. Shaun Morris, Karen Beckermann, Ajit Johal, and moderator Dr. Jeff Kwong, interim CVPD Director.
Hosted by: CVPD
Webinar | Published: Oct. 28, 2020
This panel discussion explored the ethical and implementation considerations related to priority and risk groups for vaccination in the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers included Dr. Matthew Tunis, Dr. Maxwell Smith, Caroline Lidstone-Jones, and moderator Dr. Jeff Kwong, interim CVPD Director.
Hosted by: CVPD, Joint Centre for Bioethics
Webinar | Published: Sept. 28, 2020
This panel explored what influences and constraints affect whether someone will get vaccinated; how misinformation and disinformation factor into decision-making; and what can be done to help individuals make informed decisions on vaccination, within the context of COVID-19. Speakers included Dr. Shannon MacDonald, Dr. Devon Greyson, Dr. Holly Witteman, and moderator Dr. Jeff Kwong, interim CVPD Director.
Hosted by: CVPD
Webinar | Published: Aug. 25, 2020
This panel discussion explored the issue of measuring immunity in response to COVID-19, and what it meant for the development of the COVID-19 vaccines. Speakers included Dr. Tania Watts, Dr. Jean-Philippe Julien, Dr. Jennifer Gommerman, and moderator Dr. Jeff Kwong, interim CVPD Director.
Hosted by: CVPD
Webinar | Published: May 26, 2020
The panel explored the path to an effective COVID-19 vaccine. Featured speakers included Mark Lievonen, Dr. Vivek Goel, Dr. Jeff Kwong, Interim CVPD Director, and moderator Dr. Terry Sullivan.
Hosted by: IHPME
Webinar | Published: April 28, 2020 (World Immunization Week)
This panel discussion explored the issue of maintaining routine immunizations during emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers included David Morley, Dr. Natasha Crowcroft (inaugural CVPD Director), Dr. Steven Moss, and moderator Dr. Erica Di Ruggiero.
Hosted by: CVPD, UNICEF Canada, Centre for Global Health DLSPH