MONTREAL, Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In Canada, the vast majority of COVID-19 cases in the 0-18 age group have been mild or asymptomatic. This fact, combined with the reduction in routine laboratory testing for COVID-19 in most of the country, means that infection rates in children and adolescents are largely unknown. Furthermore, because levels of transmission, vaccination, and immunity are continually changing, ongoing surveillance is necessary to help guide public health policy.
To address the knowledge gap, the Government of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), through the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF), are providing $2.6 million to carry out the largest serological survey of children and youth to date in Canada for SARS-CoV-2. The study, which benefits from the network established for an existing CIHR-funded project called Pediatric Outcomes Improvement through Coordination of Research Networks (POPCORN), is called COVID-19 seroepidemiology among children using leftover blood samples from the site of POPCORN recovered (CURNLS). It is directed by Drs. Soren Gantt and Caroline Quach-Thanh, researchers at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center and professors at the University of Montreal. POPCORN is also directed by Dr. Quach-Thanh and brings together pediatric health researchers from 16 hospital-based research centers across Canada to monitor COVID-19 infections, vaccination and social impacts among children and youth.
“The CURNLS study involves testing existing blood samples from patients aged 0 to 18 years visiting hospital emergency departments across Canada to identify whether they have had COVID-19 and whether they are immune to the infection or vaccination,” says Dr. Gantt. . “We will combine this information with rates of transmission, hospitalization, vaccination and use of public health measures to inform public health policy.”
“By including a large number of children from POPCORN network sites, spanning eight provinces, the CURNLS study will provide relatively broad and representative seroprevalence data among children and youth across Canada,” says Dr. Quach-Thanh. By testing for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, including nucleocapsid (N), spike (S), and receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigens, CURNLS researchers have several goals. “Our goal is to determine rates of seropositivity due to infection and vaccination, differences in seroprevalence among children of different ages and in different regions of Canada, and associations between serological measures and trends in viral transmission and vaccination rates “, says Dr. Quach-Thanh.
Five times over the next year, approximately 7,200 samples will be obtained and tested using the new study. The analyzes will be carried out according to three different age groups within the range of 0 to 18 years.
“The CITF funds several studies, including blood donors through the Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec, which provide valuable seroprevalence data for adults on an ongoing basis, but until now there has been no representative pediatric population in national level or even,” says Dr. Tim Evans, CITF Executive Director. “The CURNLS study is the first national serological survey focused on children and adolescents, and the data it generates on SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity will help predict future trends in the pandemic, understand the spectrum of disease arising from infection in this age group, the role of children in community transmission and the need for additional vaccination and/or public health measures.”
About the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force
The Government of Canada established the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) in late April 2020 to catalyze, support, fund and harmonize SARS-CoV-2 immunity research for federal decision makers, provincial and territorial governments in their efforts to protect Canadians and minimize the impact of COVID-19. The working group and its secretariat work closely with a range of partners, including governments, public health agencies, institutions, health organizations, research teams, other working groups, involved communities and interest groups. To date, the CITF has supported more than 110 studies across Canada that are generating critical insights into the levels, trends, nature and duration of immunity derived from SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination against the COVID-19. The CITF is overseen by a volunteer executive committee that includes leading scientists and policy makers from across Canada.
About the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada’s health research investment agency, we work with partners and researchers to support discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.
Contacts:
Task Force on COVID-19 ImmunityJean Philippe Rochettemedia@covid19immunitytaskforce.ca Cell: +1
CHU Sainte-Justine Justine Mondoux-TurcotteAssessor – Relations with the media and external relations 514 213-4488 justine.mondoux.turcotte.hsj@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.