Dr. David Scheifele
During a pandemic, it’s important to make a vaccine available to Canadians as quickly as possible. Researchers have to do more than simply develop a vaccine; they must also ensure it’s safe and effective, and determine the appropriate dose for all ages from infants to the elderly.

When it come to preparing for a pandemic – and planning the logistics required to quickly carry out such large and comprehensive studies – Dr. David Scheifele takes a lead role.

Dr. Scheifele is one of the original founders of the Vaccine Evaluation Center (VEC) at the Child & Family Research Institute and has been the centre’s director for the past 20 years. The VEC is a non-profit centre of excellence involved in independent research on:

• Vaccine safety and effectiveness
• Evaluation of new vaccines
• Vaccine-preventable infections
• Enhancement of public immunization programs

VEC researchers collaborate with vaccine specialists across the country and with provincial and federal health officials, with the goal of efficiently translating new vaccine products into optimal vaccination programs for children and adults.

Dr. Scheifele’s many interests include influenza, Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines, pneumococcal infections and vaccines, and meningococcal infections and vaccines. He is co-leader and data supervisor for the Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT), an active surveillance program involving 12 pediatric centers across Canada. This project is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and operated by the Canadian Pediatric Society and its specialist members in infectious diseases. Nurse monitors at each hospital actively search for admissions with adverse events following immunization, to assess causes and outcomes. This is a key means of assessing vaccine safety, particularly the occurrence of uncommon, severe reactions. Monitors also report on selected vaccine preventable diseases, as a measure of vaccine program effectiveness. Surveillance presently includes varicella, pertussis, invasive pneumococcal, meningococcal and influenza admissions.

Dr. Scheifele is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia and held the Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Wyeth Chair in Clinical Vaccine Research from 2004-2009. In 2007, the Canadian Paediatric Society honoured him with the Alan Ross Award for distinguished career achievement, the Society’s highest honour.

« back to Feature Researchers

Last updated: 10/04/2010