Learn more about CVPD here: https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/institutes/centre-for-vaccine-preventable-diseases/

What do we know about how each of the COVID-19 vaccines work in Canada? What have we learned from the work of COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Surveillance efforts in Canada?

This panel discussion will provide an overview and updates on COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity, safety surveillance, and vaccine effectiveness in Canada. It will build upon our previous webinars, on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Surveillance in Canada, and COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness, both held earlier in 2021.

Immunogenicity refers to the ability of an antigen (including a vaccine) to provoke an immune response in an individual and can also be used as a measure how well a vaccine works. Vaccine effectiveness refers to how well a vaccine performs in the real world to prevent infection, disease, severe outcome, or possible transmission. Vaccine effectiveness is distinct from vaccine efficacy, which is determined by comparing a vaccinated group with a placebo group under ideal and controlled circumstances.

Monitoring vaccine effectiveness is important in assessing the benefit of vaccines to communities. On the other hand, vaccine safety surveillance post licensure systematically monitors potential harms from adverse events following immunization (AEFIs), to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada remain safe and effective.

This panel discussion, hosted by the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, DLSPH, is an opportunity to hear from leading epidemiologists, physicians, and public health officials from across Canada, and to contribute to dialogue on this important area.

Speakers:
*Dr. Jeff Kwong (Moderator) - Interim Director, Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of Toronto; Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto; Program Leader, Populations and Public Health Research Program, ICES; Scientist, Public Health Ontario; Family Physician, Toronto Western Family Health Team
*Dr. Philip Awadalla – Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto; Director of Computational Biology and Senior Investigator, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research; Director and Principal Investigator of the Ontario Health Study/Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath); Director of the Genome Canada Canadian Data Integration Centre
*Dr. Natalia Abraham - Medical Advisor, Vaccine Safety, Public Health Agency of Canada.