March 6, 2024 - Western Canada Immunization Forum

Welcome video:

• Dr. Monika Naus, Medical Director, Immunization & Vaccine Preventable Diseases Service
• Elder Syexwaliya Ann Whonnock
• Video messages from Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
• Welcome from Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, BC

Plenary: Impact of the Pandemic on Immunization:

Impact of the pandemic on vaccine uptake, attitudes, and future immunization strategies (PDF) - Dr. Shannon MacDonald, Associate Professor on Nursing at the University of Alberta.

Panel discussion: Impact of the pandemic on immunization across Western Canada:

• Dr. Shannon MacDonald, Associate Professor on Nursing at the University of Alberta
• Kari Bergstrom, Director of Immunization with the Public and Rural Health Division of Alberta
• Morag Granger, Public Health Nursing Consultant with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health
• Dr. Davinder Singh, Medical Health Officer for Manitoba's Southern Health-Sante Sud region
• Dr. Sudit Ranade, Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Yukon Territory
• Dr. Monika Naus, Medical Director of Immunization & Vaccine Preventable Diseases Services at BCCDC

Morning poster presentations:

• Exploring the Slower Uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccine Among Young Adults in Island Health: A Qualitative Approach (PDF) - Gurvir Dhutt, Medical Student
• “In Canada, we’re multicultural people, right?” Sociocultural perspectives on routine childhood vaccination during COVID-19 (PDF) - Robin Humble, PhD candidate
• Understanding Yukoners’ Attitudes Towards Vaccines (ATV) Project (PDF) - Ruth Nielsen, PhD candidate

Plenary: Main Auditorium: Building Trust in Vaccines: (video): Practical ways to inoculate against misinformation for you and your patients – Ian Roe, Content Strategist, BCCDC & Renata Mares, Public Health Consultant

• Breakout 1: Equity Diversity and Inclusion (PDF) - Mustafa Ahmed, Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Fraser Health Authority
• (PDF) - Jonathan Spence, Manager of the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Interior Health Authority

Plenary: Immunization in Special Populations (video)

• Personalization of Immunization Recommendations for Immunocompromised Children (PDF) - Dr. Catherine Burton, Associate Professor of pediatrics at the University of Alberta
• Cultural Considerations While Using a Wrap Around Approach: Learning from the Maskwacis Early Years Program Successes to Increase Immunization Uptake (PDF) - Charlene Rattlesnake Early Years Program Family & Cultural Co-ordinator, Maskwacis Health Services

Afternoon poster presentations:

• Grades 1 & 2 school-based immunization clinics to increase vaccine access & coverage: QI project results & lessons (PDF) - Jingxuan Zao, Public Health & Preventive Medicine Resident Physician
• Polio surveillance among arrivals to British Columbia from a refugee complex with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (PDF) - Genevieve White, Epidemiologist, BCCDC

Additional posters:

• Immunization coverage at the 7th birthday in British Columbia (PDF) - Hannah Sell, Epidemiologist, BCCDC
• Evaluation of Long Term Effectiveness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine: Interim Analysis from QUEST ADVANCE Study (PDF) - Quan Hong, Data Analyst, BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre

Plenary: New Vaccines, New Schedules

• Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) (video – Dr. Jim Kellner, Professor in the department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary (see also PDF of Dr. Kellner's presentation
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – Dr. Gina Ogilvie, Senior Public Health Specialist, BCCDC
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) (video) – Dr. Danuta Skowronski, Physician Epidemiologist, BCCDC (see also PDF of Dr. Skowronski's presentation

Closing Remarks (video) - Dr. Monika Naus

March 1, 2023

• Welcome and Session 1 - Equity and Cultural Safety (video)
• Welcome - Dr. Monika Naus, Medical Director, Communicable Diseases and Immunization Service and Elder Shane Pointe
• Welcome from the Ministry of Health: State of the Nation - Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, BC
• Vaccine Hesitancy in an Indigenous Community (PDF) - Dr. Julie Bettinger, Elder Doreen Peter, Fairlie Mendoza
• Updates to the BC Immunization Competency Course/Skills Checklist (PDF) – Kathy Chilton
• Embedding culturally safe practice considerations into the Immunization Skills Checklist (PDF) – Bhavna Sharma
• Indigenous Knowledge Translation (PDF) – Harlan Pruden, Melanie Kurrein
• Kids Boost Immunity and Indigenous Governance
• Discussion with panel members

Session 2

• Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccine Update (video)
• COVID/Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness (PDF) – Dr. Danuta Skowronski
• Discussion with panel members

Poster presentations

Video of poster presentations

• Mpox vaccine uptake in transgender people and gay, bisexual and other MSM clients of the provincial STI clinic (PDF) – Mark Gilbert
• Invasive Haemophilus influenza type b outbreak among underhoused in Island Health (PDF) - Allison Griffiths
• Tailoring outreach strategies to overcome barriers to childhood immunizations in Fraser region (PDF) – Meghan Martin
• Measles coverage trends at the 7th birthday in British Columbia, 2014-2022 (PDF) - Hannah Sell
• COVID-19 vaccine safety among older adults aged 65 and above: A Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) study (PDF) - Phyumar Soe
• Influence of prenatal care provider type on routine vaccination in first two years of life in British Columbia (PDF) - Kate Twohig
• Characterizing Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Related Pediatric Disease Severity in Canada (PDF) – Nirma Vadlamudi

Session 3: Best Practices – Video

• Commentary and feedback from the field - Annie Lau

Session 4: Vaccine Safety – What can we learn from… Video

• Passive Surveillance (PDF) - Dr. Monika Naus
• Active Surveillance – IMPACT and CANVAS (PDF)– Dr. Julie Bettinger
• Administrative Data Linkages (PDF) – Dr. Naveed Janjua
• Special Immunization Clinic (PDF) – Dr. Manish Sadarangani
• Discussion with panel Members

Closing remarks - Dr. Monika Naus

Day 1

• Welcome - Dr. Monika Naus, Medical Director, Communicable Diseases and Immunization Service - Video
• State of the Nation - Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, BC - Video
• Welcome - Shane Pointe, Elder, Musqueam Nation - Video

COVID: The Virus, the Vaccines, the Future – Video

• Coronavirus; What is it? Where did it come from? Where is it going? (PDF) - Dr. Mel Krajden, Medical Director, Public Health Laboratory, BCCDC
• Coronavirus vaccines (PDF) - Dr. Joanne Langley, Researcher, Dalhousie University and Canadian Centre for Vaccinology
• Pandemic to Endemic – Please Say it's True! – Future of COVID – 19 Immunization (PDF) - Dr. Manish Sadarangani, Director, Vaccine Evaluation Centre, BC Children's Hospital
• Discussion with the panel

New Approaches to Immunization Communication – Video

• Introduction - Stephanie Meier, BSN, MPH, Senior Practice Leader, BCCDC
• Learnings from Behavioural Science (PDF) – Takuro Ishikawa, PhD, Behavioural Scientist, Behavioural Insights Group
• The Immunization Infodemic (PDF) – An Innovative BC Approach – Craig Thompson, BSN, MBA, Senior Director, PHABC / Lily Crist, French Education Director, Kids Boost Immunity, PHABC / Takuto Shiota, Public Health Association of BC
• Discussion with the panel
• Closing – Marion Guenther, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Immunizations, FNHA – Video

Day 2

Welcome – Bethany M​cMullen, Director, Immunizations, BC Ministry of Health – Video

How could we integrate COVID-19 vaccine into routine immunization delivery? – Video

• Welcome: Emily Malnis, PHN, Immunization Leader, Vancouver Coastal Health
• Panel:
• Brenda Tan, MD (PDF)
• Jonathan Spence, Public Health Immunization Program Leader
• Bryce Wong, Pharmacist (PDF)
• Penny Ballem, MD - COVID-19 Vaccine Rollouts and Immunization Efforts (PDF)
• Discussion with the panel: Katharine Chilton, Vaccine Educator, BCCDC

Racial Equity in Immunization – Video

• Introduction (PDF) - Dr. Julie Bettinger, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, Vaccine Evaluation Centre
• Black Community responses to racism as evidenced by COVID vaccine uptake and attitudes (PDF) - Stephanie Allen, Hogan's Alley Society
• South Asian Community member experiences and feedback for improving COVID–19 vaccine-related communications (PDF) - Gurvir Dhutt, MPH, Academic Assistant, Vaccine Evaluation Centre, BCCH
• South Asian health experience with outreach and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines (PDF) – Samantha Tong, Manager, South Asian Health Institute
• First Nations Communities in BC – A whole of community approach - Marion Guenther, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Immunization, FNHA
• Discussion with the panel - Rebecca Haber, Immunization Leader, Fraser Health

What's new and interesting? – Video

• Screening of 'Give it Your Best Shot' and Q & A - Hana Mitchell, Pediatric ID, BC Children's Hospital
• Relaunch of the Immunization Communication Tool and Q & A – Katharine Chilton, Vaccine Educator – Communicable Disease & Immunization Services, BCCDC
• Update on Kids Boost Immunity & Clubs Boost Immunity and Q & A - Ian Roe, Content Strategist, BCCDC
• New pneumococcal vaccines under review in Canada and Q & A (PDF) - Kyla J. Hildebrand, MD, MScCH Ped
• Closing – Dr. Monika Naus, Medical Director, Communicable Diseases and Immunization Service – Video

• Measles outbreak response and policy implications - Chas Debolt - Video
• ‎Implementing Mandatory Education for Parents Seeking a Philosophical Exemption: Toronto Public Health’s Experience (PDF) - Dr. Vinita Dubey
• Video
• Amplifying the Voice of Public Health in the face of Strongly Presented Public Opinion (PDF) - Juliet Guichon
• Video
• Parental refusal: What can we do? (PDF) - Douglas Diekema
• Video
• Panel - Video
• HPV Vaccination: Evidence from British Columbia and Globally (PDF) - Gina Ogilvie
• Poster presentations
• Video
• HPV Vaccine in grade 6: A qualitative study (PDF) - Hana Mijovic, M. Goulet, J. Lively, E. Dube, J. Bettinger
• Video
• Improving HPV Immunization Coverage in Vancouver Coastal (PDF) - Mena Dawar
• Using Motivational Interviewing to Engage Parents of Grade 6 Students who are Hesitant about HPV Vaccine (PDF) - Jenny Nijhoff and Sarai Racey

Morning sessions themes

New recommendations for old and new vaccines; Vaccines in pregnancy; Vaccine hesitancy

• How New Vaccines are Introduced (PDF) - M. Naus
• Subunit adjuvanted Zoster Vaccine - Why the fuss (PDF) - S. Gantt
• Expanded Use of PCV13 and PPV223 (PDF) - J. Kellner
• Vaccines Including Tdap in Pregnancy (PDF) - M. Sadarangani
• Public Health in the Age of Anxiety (PDF) - P. Bramadat

Afternoon panel session 1

• Practical Approaches for Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy at an Individual and Population Level (PDF) - J. Finlay
• The Immunity Community (PDF) - M. Melton

Afternoon Panel Session 2

• Improving Equity in childhood immunization in Saskatoon 2017 (PDF) - C. Neudorf
• Improve Immunization Services and Coverage at Island Health (PDF) - B. Hodson
• Interior Health Reminder Recall Project (PDF) - P. deBruin
• Improving and Sustaining Immunization Coverage of Kindergarten Age Children (PDF) - M. Dawar

Afternoon panel session 3

• Implementing Immunization Services for Syrian Refugees in FHA (PDF) - A. Samra and H. Shrestha
• Special Population Case Studies BC Children's Hospital (PDF) - M. Sadarangani

Afternoon panel session 4

• Timing and Content of Vaccination Information (PDF) - C. Rubincam
• Building and Maintaining Vaccine Confidence (PDF) - D. Greyson
• I Boost Immunity and Kids Boost Immunity (PDF) - I. Roe

In collaboration with First Nations Inuit Health and the government of Alberta, BCCDC hosted the Western Canadian Immunization Forum 2011 on December 7 and 8, 2011 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The primary audience was staff at all levels involved with immunization program delivery in Western Canada.

Wednesday December 7th, 2011

Morning Plenary Session:

• Introduction and overview of the program, new vaccine pipeline and prioritization process (PDF) - Monika Naus
• New developments in vaccine safety monitoring: Canada and the World (PDF) - Barbara Law
• Adverse events following immunization: Pathophysiology and Communication to Parents and the Public (PDF) - Simon Dobson
• Adverse events following immunization: Pathophysiology and Communication to Parents and the Public (PDF) - John Dean

Afternoon breakout sessions:

• Breakout #1: Perspectives on Evaluating Immunization Programs
• David Scheifele and Carol LaJeunesse presentation (PDF)
• Pearls from session 1 (PDF)
• Breakout #2: CRNBC Decision Support Tools and RN Scope of Practice
• Barb Willson presentation (PDF)
• Jasmeen Gahunia presentation (PDF)
• Pearls from session 2 (PDF)
• Breakout #3: Life Behind the Doors of Public Health: Technology and Cold Chain
• Irene Mazurenko presentation (PDF)
• Ian Gallagher presentation (PDF)
• Pearls from session 3 (PDF)
• Breakout #4: HPV Vaccine: current research and future program directions
• Another Look at the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Experience in Canada - Catherine Mah
• Pearls from session 4 (PDF)

Thursday December 8th, 2011

Morning plenary session

• Opening remarks
• Marilyn McIvor (BCCDC): Work life balance for public health leaders (PDF)
• Kathleen Ness (Alberta Health and Wellness)
• The rationale for introducing a 2nd dose of varicella (Canada) (PDF) - Ben Tan
• Using social media as an advocacy tool to communicate about immunization (PDF) - Rob Cottingham
• Using social media as an advocacy tool to communicate about immunization (PDF) - Ian Roe
• Collaboration and Communication with Pharmacists who Immunize (PDF) - Barbara Gobis-Ogle
• The US Experience with the Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine

Afternoon breakout sessions

• Breakout #5: Ethical and disease prevention considerations related to alternate schedules
• Presentation by Joan Robinson (PDF)
• Presentation by David Unger (PDF)
• Pearls from session 5 (PDF)
• Breakout #6: Partners in Prevention (a BC-wide physician survey) results
• Meena Dawar and Tamsin Morgana presentation (PDF)
• Paul Hasselback presentation (PDF)
• Pearls from session 6 (PDF)
• Breakout #7: Advocacy in Your Practice: ImmunizeBC's "I Have Immunity" campaign
• Michelle Reid, Katherine Dodds, and Chelsea Haines presentation (PDF)
• Pearls from session 7 (PDF)
• Breakout #8: Immunization as a Component of Comprehensive School Health
• Rhonda Tomaszewski presentation (PDF)
• Kathy Cassels presentation (PDF)
• Pearls from session 8 (PDF)

Thursday presentations

• Harriet Cooks - Opening remarks by First Nations Elder - audio file
• Eric Young - Opening remarks from the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport - audio file
• Monika Naus - Introduction and overview of the program (PDF) and audio version of introduction
• Samara David - Immunization uptake in BC adults (PDF) and audio version of immunization uptake presentation
• Danuta Skowronski - Scientific considerations for expansion to universal influenza vaccine policy
• Ian Gemmill - Implementation of the universal influenza immunization program in Ontario: Lessons learned
• Ian Gemmill presentation (PDF)
• Ian Gemmill audio part one
• Ian Gemmill audio part two
• Ian Gemmill audio part three
• Ian Gemmill audio part four
• Beverly Hagar - Mandatory immunization of health care workers against influenza
• Beverly Hagar presentation
• Beverly Hagar audio part one
• Beverly Hagar audio part two
• Beverly Hagar audio part three
• Alison McGeer - Adult pneumococcal vaccine: Old and new
• Alison McGeer presentation
• Alison McGeer audio part one
• Alison McGeer audio part two
• Alison McGeer audio part three
• Michael Oxman - Zoster vaccine for older adults
• Michael Oxman presentation (PDF)
• Michael Oxman audio part one
• Michael Oxman audio part two
• Michael Oxman audio part three
• Michael Oxman audio part four

Q&A panel with all Thursday presenters

• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two

Pearls from Thursday breakout sessions

• Presentation: Breakout Session #1 - Immunization of immunocompromised adults (PDF)
• Pearls: Breakout Session #2 - Supporting BC physicians to deliver immunization
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Audio Part Three
• Audio Part Four
• Audio Part Five
• Audio Part Six

Friday presentations

• Samara David and Monika Naus - HPV year 1 BC: Uptake of dose 1 and adverse events
• Presentation One
• Presentation Two
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Audio Part Three
• Linda McCannell - Lessons learned in year 1 of the BC HPV program
• Presentation
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Audio Part Three
• Elizabeth Brodkin - Mature minor consent: Theory versus practice
• Presentation
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Gina Ogilvie - Knowledge, attitudes and practice of parents of grade 6 girls in BC
• Presentation
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Monique Landry - HPV year 1 in Quebec: Different perspectives, different outcomes
• Presentation
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Audio Part Three
• Audio Part Four
• Pam Orr - Epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases in First Nations people
• Presentation
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Audio Part Three
• Gail Peekeekoot - Erasing the lines: Public health service integration for First Nations communities
• Presentation
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Q&A panel with all Friday presenters
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Audio Part Three
• Pearls from Friday breakout sessions and forum closing remarks
• Presentation: Breakout Session #5 - Improving vaccine cold chain and inventory management
• Pearls: Breakout Session #5 - Improving vaccine cold chain and inventory management
• Pearls: Breakout Session #6 - Legal issues related to immunization including the new Health Act
• Pearls: Breakout Session #7 - First Nations issues: Immunization record keeping, registries, and interface to local public health
• Audio Part One
• Audio Part Two
• Audio Part Three
• Audio Part Four
• Audio Part Five
• Audio Part Six

Forum on Immunizing in Schools

The proceedings of the morning plenary sessions from the “Forum on Immunizing in Schools” are archived below; permissions were obtained from the presenters for the posted presentations and accompanying audio.

The goal of this two day forum was to share successes and lessons learned from school-based immunization programs in BC, with a focus on preadolescent/ adolescent age groups.

Participants and presenters were mainly from the public health community, but also included those from education and clinical practice. The proceedings of the meeting, including afternoon breakout sessions, will inform the future work of the BC Immunization Subcommittee, which hosted this event, and implementation of the ImmunizeBC strategic framework on immunization.

Day 1 presentations

• Overview, M. Naus
• Presentation
• Immunization Rates and Trends, S. David
• Presentation
• Legal Issues for Consent and Records, F. Gow
• Presentation
• Health and Education: Partnerships in Practice, L. Buchanan
• Presentation
• Building Relationships in Schools, L. Dukowski

Day 2 presentations

• Presentation

• Presentation

• Presentation

• Presentation

• Presentation