The Vaccine Evaluation Center (VEC) is committed to building a world without vaccine-preventable diseases. Our research and evaluation projects span across all age groups and include laboratory science, clinical trials, epidemiologic studies, social sciences, program implementation and surveillance.
Explore our current research based on disease type and area of focus.
Influenza | Meningococcal | HPV | Pneumococcal | Varicella | Whooping Cough | Vaccine Confidence | Vaccine Surveillance | COVID-19
Influenza
Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by an influenza virus. A person infected with influenza is at risk for further infections, including viral or bacterial pneumonia, which is infection of the lungs. Children are especially vulnerable and at greater risk of flu complications.
The CANVAS Flu Study
- The CANVAS flu study aims to find out how often adverse events (side effects) occur after an influenza flu shot.
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Why are we doing this study?
The purpose of this study is to find out how often health problems occur after an influenza vaccine and primarily uses an online survey to report. This study is an online assessment of the annual influenza (flu) vaccination program at several sites across Canada.
The CANVAS surveillance network complements Canada’s passive vaccine safety surveillance system with rapid information early in the COVID-19 and influenza vaccine campaigns.
10 year flu follow-up study
- The 10 year flu follow-up study aims to better understand previous participants’ antibody response to different strains of the influenza virus.
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Why are we doing the study?
There are 2 kinds of influenza A viruses and 2 kinds of influenza B viruses (“B/Yamagata” and “B/Victoria). Each winter, the influenza vaccine is changed according to which viruses experts think will be circulating.
The purpose of the study is to see if children who participated in our 2008 study called TITRE and those who were primed with B/Yamagata produce a good antibody response to the new B/Victoria vaccine strain included in the 2018-2019 influenza vaccine.
Meningococcal
A germ called meningococcus (Neisseria meningitides) can cause many serious diseases, including meningitis and septicemia (blood poisoning). Meningitis affects the brain and spinal cord. It can cause hearing loss, seizures, learning and behavior problems, severe brain damage and even death. Death is caused in about half of the cases if left untreated.
Learn more about meningococcal disease
Meningococcal Vaccine Comparison in Adolescents
- This study compares the 3 different meningococcal vaccines currently being offered to teenagers across Canada.
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Why are we doing this study?
Meningococcal disease is often severe and can be deadly. Researchers at the Vaccine Evaluation Center would like to find out if there are any differences between these 3 vaccines, and if any of them are better than the others.
HPV
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), with an estimated lifetime risk of 80% among sexually active individuals. Females and males are both susceptible to HPV. Globally, HPV is one of the leading causes of cancer. HPV can cause several different kinds of cancer, including oral, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and anal cancer. Almost all (99%) of cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
QUEST: 10 Year HPV Vaccine Evaluation
- The national Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine Evaluation Study (QUEST) is following participants for up to 10 years after their first HPV vaccine in order to assess HPV risk, HPV prevalence, and whether two doses of the vaccine Gardasil provides similar protection as three doses against human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.
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Why are we doing this study?
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly sexually transmitted infections (STI) and Current HPV vaccine is recommended on a three dose schedule, a decrease in dosage can make HPV vaccines more accessible. The study aims to answer the following questions:
- Are two doses of HPV vaccine enough to provide continued protection?
- What level of HPV disease is present in the vaccinated population?
- Is there a difference between the groups that had two doses of the vaccine, versus those that had three?
QUEST-ADVANCE
- The QUEST-ADVANCE study is looking at the differences in HPV vaccine dosing schedules. Women ages 20-27 and men ages 15-20 are invited to participate in this observational study regardless of whether or not they have received the HPV vaccine.
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Why are we doing this study?
The elimination of cervical cancer has been listed by the World Health Organization as a top health priority and Canada is posed to be one of the first countries to achieve this goal. Ongoing evaluation of the HPV vaccine and dosing schedule is critical to optimizing the vaccine’s cancer-eliminating potential.
Determinants of HPV Vaccine Uptake in School-Based Programs in Canada
- This study aims to understand parents’ and students’ thoughts about the HPV vaccine, whether the information received at school is helpful at making informed decisions regarding the HPV vaccine, and parents’ and students’ thoughts about school vaccination clinics.
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Why are we doing this study?
Grade 6 Students in BC are eligible to receive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (shot) through school vaccination clinics. As schools are one of the primary education source of young children, researchers are interested in HPV vaccine education and public opinion.
ACE-PROVE: Predictors of HPV vaccine uptake study
The purpose of this study is to determine the current factors (knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs) that influence parental decisions to vaccinate their children with HPV vaccine and accordingly, what actions can be taken to increase HPV vaccine uptake in BC and Canada.
Pneumococcal
Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP). This is a major cause of infection of the ears, sinuses, blood, lungs, and brain. Children under 2 years of age have the highest rates of disease. Even with treatment, many children with severe disease may die or experience severe complications, such as meningitis, pneumonia, septicemia (blood poisoning), hearing loss, or brain damage.
Learn more about pneumococcal disease
PCV13 Study
- This study is evaluating the effectiveness of fewer vaccine doses for providing the same protection against pneumococcal disease.
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Why are we doing this study?
Pneumococcal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide especially in young children <5 years. Although the vaccine is given as 3 shots at 2, 4, and 12 months of age, researchers would like to find out if it is possible to achieve the same protection using just 2 shots at 2 and 12 months.
PATH Pneumococcal Vaccine Study
- This study is evaluating a new vaccine to protect against 25 strains of SP bacteria.
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Why are we doing this study?
Researchers at the VEC and the University of British Columbia will help to evaluate a new vaccine to protect against 25 strains of streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. There is a vaccine approved in Canada that protects against the diseases caused by 20 types of SP. However, there are many types of SP responsible for diseases not covered by this vaccine.
Varicella
Varicella, also known as chickenpox, is a very common and highly infectious childhood disease that is found worldwide. The defining symptom is a characteristic blister-like rash, which can cause severe irritation. Approximately one in 200 children who got the disease were hospitalized every year with 1-2 deaths occurring annually.
Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) in Solid Organ Transplant (SOT)
- This study is investigating how health care providers and caregivers will accept chickenpox vaccination, as well as evaluating the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness in children with transplants.
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Why are we doing this study?
Chickenpox, or varicella, was once a common childhood illness. In children with weakened immune systems, it can be even worse and has been known to cause complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis and even death.
Doctors have historically not given this vaccine to children with transplants, however, new studies are showing that it is actually safe and effective for certain patients.
Whooping Cough
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory illness caused by Bordetella pertussis. Symptoms include prolonged cough, and in infants can cause breathing pause and death. Pertussis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants < 3 months of age, who are below the age of recommended pertussis immunization. The Tdap vaccine is recommended as an important part of a healthy pregnancy, protecting pregnant people and their child against three potentially life-threatening bacterial diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).
Learn more about whooping cough
Tdap in pregnancy in Uganda in HIV positive/negative women
- This study aims to understand the function of antibodies induced following Tdap immunization during pregnancy, and explore if there are differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative women.
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Why are we doing this study?
While vaccines have been proven to be effective against pertussis, there has been no evidence of correlate of protection and mechanism is unknown.
Vaccine Confidence
It's normal to have questions and concerns about vaccines. Vaccine confidence is the belief that vaccines are effective and safe.
Understanding factors that influence vaccine decision-making, such as cultural, social, and political factors, is important for building stronger provincial and national vaccination programs.
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy in an Indigenous Community
- In partnership with Cowichan community members and Elders, this project’s goals are to learn more about vaccine hesitancy in the community and to contribute to capacity building for future participatory action and community-based research in Cowichan Tribes.
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Why are we doing this study?
In recent years, fewer people in the Cowichan Community are getting their shots. This study aims to understand why people choose to get or not get vaccinated.
Vaccine Surveillance
Before a vaccine can be given to you or your family, it must be proven to be safe and to work. However, every vaccine is monitored after it's approved for use.
This is an important part of immunization research to ensure the highest standards of safety and quality. As an independent academic center, we are well situated to objectively monitor the quality of our vaccine products and programs.
Mandatory Vaccine Documentation Study
- In 2019, British Columbia introduced a regulatory mechanism under the provincial Public Health Act mandating documentation of immunization for school enrolment. This intervention is being evaluated in this study.
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Why are we doing this study?
The study aims to measure any change in vaccination rates and vaccinations attitudes, after implementation of the policy as well as monitoring for potential unintended consequences (e.g., clustering of unvaccinated populations, implications for the public health workforce).
An Intervention to Protect Every Pregnancy
- This study evaluates the adaption of a new intervention method, MumBubVax, in the Canadian system to increase vaccine uptake.
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Why are we doing this study?
Many pregnant parents struggle with questions regarding vaccination during pregnancy. Interventions to promote vaccination during prenatal visits provide an opportunity to improve vaccine uptake throughout childhood.
This intervention will be evaluated to inform a future, larger, randomized controlled trial of the intervention.
Special Immunization Clinic
- This study is collecting information from patients who are attending the Special Immunization Clinic (SIC) due to concerns around receiving vaccines. Researchers are combining the information they get from patient visits, with that of similar patients across Canada, in order to help doctors improve care for other patients who have vaccine concerns in the future.
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Why are we doing this study?
While vaccines have decreased diseases around the world and are generally considered safe, there are a few cases of serious and severe side effects from vaccination. People who have had serious side effects are sometimes anxious about whether or not to have more vaccines, and there is currently little scientific data to help these people decide what to do next.
Creating a Digitally Enhanced AEFI Surveillance System in Canada
- This study is examining opportunities for the use of digital technology in adverse event following immunization (AEFI) surveillance in Canada. It has a specific focus on digitally facilitated participant-centred reporting in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations.
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Why are we doing this study?
Serious adverse events following immunization are rare, but do occur. Therefore, good quality surveillance is necessary and critical in detecting and understanding rare and more common adverse events. Digital technology, which has transformed society and healthcare, offers the potential to enhance and improve AEFI surveillance.
IMPACT – Surveillance of vaccine preventable disease(s) hospitalizations in children
- IMPACT, Canada’s Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive, is a paediatric hospital-based national active surveillance network for adverse events following immunization, vaccine failures and selected infectious diseases that are, or will be, vaccine preventable.
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Why are we doing this study?
IMPACT monitors vaccine safety and the pattern of diseases that are currently or potentially vaccine-preventable in children. IMPACT complements existing national surveillance systems, supports public health action, informs policy dialogue with Federal, Provincial, Territorial and other national stakeholders, and assists in meeting Canada’s international commitments for vaccine safety monitoring and disease reporting.
COVID-19 Research
COVID-19 is the infectious disease identified in December 2019 that is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic due to the rapid increase in the number of cases globally. The spectrum of illness associated with COVID-19 has spanned mild and non-specific flu-like illness to severe manifestations, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death.
The CANVAS COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Study
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The Canadian National Vaccine Safety (CANVAS) Network is a national research platform that monitors vaccine safety after vaccines are approved for use. We are monitoring the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines in Canada and we need YOUR help.
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Why are we doing this study?
The purpose of this study is to find out how often health problems occur after a COVID-19 vaccine. This could provide information on frequency and severity of adverse events from COVID-19 vaccines.
The CANVAS surveillance network complements Canada’s passive vaccine safety surveillance system with rapid information early in the COVID-19 vaccine campaign.
The SPRING Study
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The SPRING study will help researchers better understand rates of COVID-19 infections amongst children and youth in BC.
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Why are we doing this study?
While highly infectious in adults, only 1 – 5% of COVID cases have been children ages 19 or younger. In Many COVID-19 cases in children, as well as in adults, have been mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic (without symptoms). This study will help inform public health guidance for schools and work.
The MOSAIC Study
- The MOSAIC study is comparing the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of different dosing schedules and different combinations of the COVID-19 vaccines that are available in Canada.
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Why are we doing this study?
Data has shown the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against severe disease up to 6 months after vaccination, however, there is some evidence of decreasing antibody levels. Additionally, implementing recommended immunization schedules has been challenging due to factors such as vaccine shortage and vaccine mixing. The goals of this study are to help researchers understand the immune response to COVID-19 after vaccination with different intervals and vaccines between the first and second dose, and to help guide future policies and recommendations for how these vaccines are used.
PREVENT-COVID
- As older adults are more vulnerable to COVID-19, researchers would like to better understand the short- and long-term immune response to COVID-19 vaccines in adults over 50 years old.
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Why are we doing this study?
The goals of the study are to help researchers understand older adults’ immunity to COVID-19 after vaccination and to help guide policies and recommendations for how these vaccines are used.
The SHARE Study: COVID-19 Household Transmission
- The SHARE study aims to understand how much COVID-19 infection spreads between people living within the same household and discover if there are differences between those who become infected and those who do not.
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Why are we doing this study?
Lockdowns across the globe slowed the spread of COVID-19. However, household contact is often unavoidable in shared living spaces. Understanding household interactions and dynamics may help reduce the spread of disease.
Participate in VEC Research
If you are interested in joining one of our studies or
would like to be added to our contact list, click below.
Researchers at the Vaccine Evaluation Center and BC Centre for Disease Control would like to better understand immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines in adults. Multiple COVID-19 vaccines will be used in Canada and best use of these vaccines will help us control the pandemic as quickly as possible.