Canadian health care providers' and education workers' hesitance to receive original and bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.

Background: The demand for COVID-19 vaccines has diminished as the pandemic lingers. Understanding vaccine hesitancy among essential workers is important in reducing the impact of future pandemics by providing effective immunization programs delivered expeditiously.

Method: Two surveys exploring COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in 2021 and 2022 were conducted in cohorts of health care providers (HCP) and education workers participating in prospective studies of COVID-19 illnesses and vaccine uptake.

Summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Statement-Recommendations on Fractional Influenza Vaccine Dosing in the Event of a Shortage: Pandemic preparedness.

Background: At the commencement of a pandemic, it is important to consider the impact of respiratory infections on the health system and the possibility of vaccine shortages due to increased demand. In the event of an influenza vaccine shortage, a strategy for administration of fractional influenza vaccine doses might be considered. This article reviews the available evidence for efficacy, effectiveness, immunogenicity and safety of fractional influenza vaccine dosing, and summarizes the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations on fractional dosing strategies by public health programs in Canada.

Canada's National Advisory Committee on immunization: Adaptations and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged traditional vaccine guidance infrastructure and frameworks, and added urgency and complexity to the operation of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs). Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides immunization guidance to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) who publicly shares expert and evidence-informed guidance with Canadian provinces and territories. Throughout the pandemic, NACI and PHAC implemented many adaptations to meet urgent needs for pandemic vaccine guidance.

Summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Rapid Response: Updated interim guidance on Imvamune in the context of ongoing monkeypox outbreaks.

Background: During the period of monkeypox community transmission and restricted vaccine supply in the summer of 2022, Canadian provinces and territories and a number of vaccine stakeholders indicated the need for consistent national guidance on pre-exposure vaccination (including the identification of priority populations for pre-exposure vaccination programs) and guidance on the potential use of dose-sparing strategies.

Methods: The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) High Consequence Infectious Disease Working Group reviewed data on the status of the monkeypox outbreak along with additional published and non-published evidence regarding the safety, immunogenicity and protection offered by Imvamune. NACI approved updated recommendations on September 16, 2022, and on September 23, 2022 it released updated interim guidance on the use of Imvamune in the context of the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.

Risk of transmission of respiratory viruses during aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMPs) revisited in the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.

Background: In many jurisdictions healthcare workers (HCWs) are using respirators for aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMPs) performed on adult and pediatric populations with all suspect/confirmed viral respiratory infections (VRIs). This systematic review assessed the risk of VRIs to HCWs in the presence of AGMPs, the role respirators versus medical/surgical masks have on reducing that risk, and if the risk to HCWs during AGMPs differed when caring for adult or pediatric patient populations.

Main Text: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Cochrane SR, CINAHL, COVID-19 specific resources, and MedRxiv for English and French articles from database inception to September 9, 2021.

Summary of the NACI Supplemental Statement on Mammalian Cell Culture-Based Influenza Vaccines.

Background: Mammalian cell culture-based technology is an innovative technique for influenza vaccine manufacturing that may be a valuable alternative to overcome some of the problems and vulnerabilities associated with conventional egg-based influenza vaccine production. Flucelvax Quad (Seqirus, Inc.) is the first and only mammalian cell culture-based quadrivalent inactivated, subunit influenza vaccine (IIV4-cc) authorized for adult and pediatric use in Canada.

Summary of the NACI systematic review and recommendation on the use of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in HIV-infected individuals.

Background: Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all individuals six months of age and older, including those with HIV infection. Prior to this statement, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) stated that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) was contraindicated for all individuals with HIV infection. The objective of this article is to update NACI's guidance on the use of LAIV for HIV-infected individuals.

Summary of the NACI Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Statement for 2020-2021.

Background: Evidence on influenza vaccination is continually evolving. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides annual recommendations to the Public Health Agency of Canada regarding the use of seasonal influenza vaccines.

Objective: To summarize NACI's recommendations regarding the use of seasonal influenza vaccines for the 2020-2021 influenza season and to highlight new and updated recommendations.

Summary of the NACI Statement on the Use of Bivalent Factor H Binding Protein Meningococcal Serogroup B (MenB-fHBP) Vaccine for the Prevention of Meningococcal B Disease.

Background: TrumenbaTM, a bivalent, factor-H binding protein meningococcal serogroup B (MenB-fHBP) vaccine was authorized for use in Canada in October 2017 for the prevention of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by serogroup B in individuals 10-25 years of age. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides recommendations regarding the use of meningococcal vaccines to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Objective: To summarize NACI recommendations regarding the use of MenB-fHBP vaccine in Canada.

Osteoporosis-related kyphosis and impairments in pulmonary function: a systematic review.

Unlabelled: We conducted a systematic review to examine the relationship between osteoporotic vertebral fractures, kyphosis, and pulmonary function. Findings suggest modest but predictable declines in vital capacity related to the degree of kyphosis. However, there were only four studies, and all had significant methodologic limitations.