CITF COVID-19 Immunity Task Force Databank

CanPath and its regional cohorts, including Atlantic PATH, are proud to be part of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) Databank with our COVID-19 serology study that includes participants across the country. The CITF Databank data holdings include data from 21 studies, including six multi-province studies “representing a wide range of population and community data from various regions of Canada. Access is free and open to researchers everywhere.” Details: https://www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca/citf-databank/

Most CanPath study participants had infection-acquired antibodies but few suspected COVID-19

Dr. Victoria Kirsh presented at a CanPath webinar this week to present results from the SUPPORT-Canada study, funded by the federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF). Data and blood spot samples were used from 22,300 participants from Atlantic PATH, CARTaGENE, the Ontario Health Study, Manitoba Tomorrow Project, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, and BC Generations. Key findings include: 62% of participants had a COVID-19 infection based on anti-N measured antibody levels. Among those, 86% did not suspect they had ever had COVID-19. 95% of the COVID-19 infections were observed during the Omicron period. Risk of infection was increased among younger individuals, males, essential workers, and those who travelled. Participants with a reported COVID-19 infection reported symptoms from mild to severe, but few required hospitalization. The effectiveness of full or booster vaccination in preventing COVID-19 Omicron infection is short-term, only lasting 4 months. Time since last dose is a more important determinant of protection against infection than the number of doses. Antibody levels are correlates of vaccine-induced protection. Prior COVID-19 infection protects against reinfection for 8 months. The CanPath SUPPORT-Canada study has provided important findings related to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines and infections. With only 4 months of protection, these findings suggest that booster campaigns could be strategically used to rapidly boost immunity before upcoming waves of infection. Further, the longitudinal nature of CanPath participants ensures that we have a nationally representative population that can be followed for years to come (e.g., impact of Long COVID, future vaccinations, etc.). Link to recorded webinar: To come Link to webinar slide deck: https://www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/canpath-webinar-may-2023.pdf Link to CITF’s post: https://www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca/most-canpath-study-participants-had-infection-acquired-antibodies-but-few-suspected-covid-19/

CanPath to Study the Impact and Immune Response to COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination

The Government of Canada is investing $1.9m through the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) to fund an extension of CanPath’s COVID-19 Antibody Study over a longer period of time, allowing for additional collection of blood samples and questionnaires. The CanPath COVID-19 Antibody Study is implemented in collaboration with CanPath’s regional cohorts, including Atlantic PATH, CARTaGENE (Quebec), the Ontario Health Study, the Manitoba Tomorrow Project, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, and the BC Generations Project. CanPath is a national population health research platform that follows the health of 330,000 volunteer Canadians (or approximately 1% of the population). Its pan-Canadian COVID-19 Antibody Study will now collect a second dried blood spot sample from over 20,000 Canadians, aged 30 and older. Researchers will test the samples for presence and level of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, produced in response to either vaccination or past infection with the novel coronavirus. Please click here for additional details: https://bit.ly/3I6lWE5