I am Director of the Vaccine Evaluation Center, a leading centre for applied vaccine research in Canada. Six researchers contribute to the VEC’s research program, including S. Dobson, J. Ochnio, J. Dutz, J. Bettinger, and G. Bjornson. The researchers share a field team (coordinators, nurses, assistants), data management group (manager, statistician, assistants) and specialized laboratory. The main research themes involve disease burden studies, vaccine clinical trials, and studies to fine tune public immunization programs, including ongoing assessment of vaccine safety. The Vaccine Center 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.

I am 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.

I play a leading role in preparing for studies that will be necessary for a pandemic influenza vaccine. It will be important to make a vaccine available to Canadians as quickly as possible in such a crisis, but in doing so health authorities must be sure that the vaccine is safe and effective. Dosing requirements will have to be worked out for all age groups, from infants to the elderly. Safety must be carefully assessed in several thousand individuals, of all ages. Many centers will need to be involved to carry out these large studies, the logistics for which need to be carefully planned and tested at intervals. Questions that could be answered in advance of a pandemic need to be addressed and identified.

Bettinger JA, Scheifele DW, Le Saux N, Halperin SA, Vaudry W, Tsang R; Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT).: The impact of childhood meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine programs in Canada. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009 Mar;28(3):220-4.

Scheifele D W. IMPACT after 17 years: Lessons learned about successful networking. Paediatr Child Health 2009; 14:33-5.

Burton C, Vaudry W, Moore D, Scheifele D, Bettinger J, Halperin S, Tam T, Law B for the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT).: Children hospitalized with influenza during the 2006-2007 season: a report from the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT). Canada Commun Dis Report. 2008 Dec; 34(12):1-12.

Scheifele DW, Bettinger JA, Halperin SA, Law B, Bortolussi R.: Ongoing control of Haemophilus influenzae type B infections in Canadian children, 2004-2007. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Aug;27(8):755-7.

Norton SP, Scheifele DW, Bettinger JA, West RM.: Influenza vaccination in paediatric nurses: cross-sectional study of coverage, refusal, and factors in acceptance. Vaccine. 2008 Jun 2;26(23):2942-8.

Kellner JD, Scheifele D, Vanderkooi OG, Macdonald J, Church DL, Tyrrell GJ.: Effects of routine infant vaccination with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on nasopharyngeal colonization with streptococcus pneumoniae in children in Calgary, Canada. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Jun;27(6):526-32.

Wootton SH, Law B, Tan B, Mozel M, Scheifele DW, Halperin S for IMPACT Investigators.: The epidemiology of children hospitalized with herpes zoster in Canada - Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT), 1991-2005. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Feb; 27(2):112-118.

Scheifele D W, Halperin S A, Ward B, Duval B. The challenges facing Canadian trialists in an increasingly competitive global market: what can be done to remain competitive? Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2007; 18:205-8.

Scheifele D W, Halperin S A, Ochnio J J, Mozel M, Duarte-Monteiro D, Wortzman D. Immunologic considerations for the timing of the booster dose of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in young children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2007; 26:387-392.

Bettinger J A, Scheifele D W, Halperin S A, Kellner J D, Tyrell G and Members of the Canadian Paediatric Society's Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT). Invasive pneumococcal infections in Canadian children, 1998-2003. Can J Pub Hlth 2007; 98:111-115.

Bjornson G, Scheifele D W, Bettinger J, Patrick D M, Gustafson L, Daly P and Tyrell G J. Effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Greater Vancouver, Canada: 2004-2005. Ped Infect Dis J 2007; 26(6):540-542.

Scheifele D W, Halperin S A, Smith B, Ochnio J, Meloff K, Duarte-Monteiro D. Assessment of the compatibility of co-administered 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate, DTaP.IPV/PRP-T Hib and hepatitis B vaccines in infants 2-7 months of age. Vaccine 2006; 24:2057-64.

Scheifele D W, Halperin S A, Ochnio J J, Ferguson A C, Skowronski D M. A modified vaccine reduces the rate of large injection site reactions to the preschool booster dose of diphtheria-tetanus acellular pertussis vaccine - results of a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2005: 24(12)3:28-51 PM 1059-1066.

Ochnio J J, Scheifele D W, Fyfe M, Bigham M, Bowering D, Martiquet P, Ho M, Talling D N. The prevalence of hepatitis A in children in British Columbia. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2005; 16(3):175-179.

Scheifele D W, Duval B, Russell M L, Warrington R, De Serres G, Skowronski d M, Dionne M, Kellner J, Davies D, MacDonald J. Ocular and respiratory symptoms attributable to inactivated split influenza vaccine: evidence from a controlled trial involving adults. Clin Infect Dis 2003 Apr 1; 36(7):850-7. Epub 2003 Mar 18.

CIHR/Wyeth Chair in Clinical Vaccine Research – 2004-2009

Alan Ross Award, Canadian Paediatric Society – 2007

Sauder Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases – 1997-2004

Cecilia Jankowski – Secretary

Arlene Kallos – Coordinator

Carol LaJeunesse – Coordinator

Mary Ann Mauro – Coordinator

Agnes Leung – Research nurse

Boni Parker – Research nurse

Cindy Speakman – Research nurse

Francine Binder – Research nurse

Kathy Leung – Research nurse

Laraine Davey – Research nurse

Linda Warner – Research nurse

Marney Hunt – Research nurse

Rita Janke – Research nurse

Karen Kroeker – IMPACT monitor/research nurse

Debbie Windover – IMPACT monitor/research nurse

Debbe Heayn – Research assistant (IMPACT)

Kim LaJeunesse – Research assistant

Ruth John – Research assistant (student)

Kim Marty – Data team manager

Michelle Mozel – Statistician

Margaret Ho - Laboratory