Today@Dal

The purpose of this study is to measure the level of protection against measles, mumps and varicella (chickenpox) in infants.

Your child is currently protected from these diseases by antibodies (proteins from your immune system) that you transferred to them in pregnancy. These levels of protection decrease quickly in the first year of life, potentially leaving infants at risk of getting these diseases prior to receiving their own immunizations (which in Nova Scotia are given at 12 months of age).

This study will help us determine the level of protection against these diseases in infants of different ages, and to understand whether and for how long infants may be at risk of measles, mumps or chickenpox prior to receiving their own immunizations. The results may help decision-makers ensure that we are protecting infants as best as we can by determining when they should be immunized, and what the risks of developing the measles, mumps and varicella if they are exposed to these diseases.

Your child can take part in this study if:

He/she is 12 months of age or younger.
He/she was born at equal to or greater than 37 weeks gestation.
He/she has no previous history of measles, mumps or varicella infection.
He/she has no underlying health problems that would affect their immune system.

For more information, visit our website here: http://centerforvaccinology.ca/study/measles-mumps-varicella-research-study/

Contact information: Jill Mutch
                                       902-470-3860
                                       jill.mutch@iwk.nshealth.ca     

Influenza or ‘flu’ is a highly contagious infection that is caused by a virus (germ) and spread by nasal droplets. Symptoms include sudden high fever, headache, chills, muscle ache and cough. The flu can also lead to other serious diseases such as pneumonia (an infection of the lungs), which can
be dangerous in young children. The flu virus changes a little bit each year so a new vaccine is required each fall to protect against new “strains” year.

Vaccination with a flu vaccine is the best way to prevent influenza and avoid complications and is recommended by public health. Children under two years of age may not have strong immune responses to regular flu
vaccines.

The purpose of this study is to determine if giving the adjuvanted vaccine to children who have not had a flu vaccine before will improve their immune responses to annual flu vaccines.

For more information, visit our website here: http://centerforvaccinology.ca/study/flu-vaccine-study/

Contact information: Cathy Brown
                                       902-470-7015
                                       catherine.brown@iwk.nshealth.ca          

RSV is a cold-like virus (germ). It infects the airways and lungs. A person with a mild RSV illness may have a cold or a sore throat. A
person with severe illness may have problems breathing.

By the age of 2 years almost all children have had an RSV illness. RSV illness is one of the most common reasons why young babies are admitted to the hospital. In severe cases, babies may die from RSV illness. RSV infection can be more serious in young babies, whose airways are still very small and whose immune system cannot fight germs very well. RSV is the most common cause of
bronchiolitis (infection of the breathing tubes) and some pneumonia (lung infection)
in young babies.

Purpose of the study:

This is the first study of this RSV vaccine in pregnant women. We have already studied this vaccine in healthy women who are not pregnant. So far, we know that the vaccine can boost antibodies in these non-pregnant women.

The study will test a smaller dose and a larger dose of the vaccine. Each of these doses has been given safely to about 125 women who are not pregnant.

We are looking for healthy pregnant women aged 18-40 years old to take part in this clinical research study. For more information, visit
our website here: http://centerforvaccinology.ca/study/rsv-vaccine-study/

Contact information: Pamela MacIntyre
                                       902-470-8948                                      
pamela.macintyre@iwk.nshealth.ca

Pertussis, also known as "whooping cough", is a highly contagious respiratory disease (a disease of the breathing system). Pertussis, is caused by a bacterium (germ) called Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria enter the respiratory system and release substances that cause the airways to swell. These changes to the respiratory system result in coughing fits, with uncontrollable, violent coughing, which often makes it hard to breath.

Purpose of the study:

This study aims to evaluate the safety and the immunogenicity of the Tdap booster vaccine. "Safety" means the way the vaccine is tolerated. "Immunogenicity" means the ability of the vaccine to stimulate the body to make the immune system control the bacteria before it makes the person ill. The investigational Tdap booster vaccine will be compared to a Tdap vaccine licensed in Canada called Adacel^®. A licensed vaccine is one that a doctor can prescribe. The licensed vaccine Adacel^® protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis diseases.

We are looking for young adults aged 19-21 years old to take part in this clinical research study. For more information, visit our website here: http://centerforvaccinology.ca/study/tdap-vaccine-study/

Contact information: Cathy Brown
                                       902-470-7015
                                       Catherine.brown@iwk.nshealth.ca