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The PHAC/CIHR Infl uenza Research
Network (PCIRN) 2009-2015
PCIRN was launched in 2009 through a three-year grant of $13.8
million from the Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian
Institutes of Health Research, and this was followed by an invitation in
2012 for investigators to participate in a directed grant application for
an additional three years of funding of $4.5 million, to 2015.
In its six years of operations, the PCIRN Network and its investigators
have contributed an immense amount of valuable vaccine research
through various studies, publications, and knowledge translation
activities, both in Canada and internationally.
As PCIRN conducts its close-out year, several of its current initiatives
and infrastructures will be retired or absorbed into CIRN.
PCIRN Program Delivery and Evaluation (PDE)
Network
Led by Dr. Jeff Kwong, the Program Delivery and
Evaluation (PDE) Network conducted applied research
evaluating public health strategies to improve infl uenza
immunization uptake. The network focused on the
following projects in its wrap-up year of 2014-15:
Randomized Evaluation of Live Attenuated
vs. Inactivated infl uenza Vaccines in Schools
(RELATIVES): Pilot Study sought to evaluate the
feasibility of administering LAIV vs. IIV via schools,
based on uptake, stakeholder acceptability, and cost. Impact of Pharmacist Delivery of Infl uenza
Led by Dr. Jeff Kwong, the study found that use of Vaccines on Coverage focused on the impact of
LAIV in school-based clinics was associated with pharmacist delivery of infl uenza vaccines in Canada. The
increased vaccine uptake and the perception among analysis is currently being conducted by a PhD student,
school principals and immunization staff of reduced Sarah Buchan, under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Kwong.
child anxiety, but also higher vaccine administration
costs, compared to IIV. A sub-study demonstrated that Mixed Methods Examination of the 2012-
conducting surveillance for infl uenza on vaccinated 2015 British Columbia Infl uenza Prevention
students and their household members is feasible and Policy study examined the impact of the BC Infl uenza
provided suggestive evidence that vaccinating school Prevention Policy on immunization rates among
children with LAIV confers greater direct and indirect healthcare workers. More specifi cally, the study had two
protection than IIV. research foci: a case study of how one implements a
2015 ANNUAL REPORT 9
Network (PCIRN) 2009-2015
PCIRN was launched in 2009 through a three-year grant of $13.8
million from the Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian
Institutes of Health Research, and this was followed by an invitation in
2012 for investigators to participate in a directed grant application for
an additional three years of funding of $4.5 million, to 2015.
In its six years of operations, the PCIRN Network and its investigators
have contributed an immense amount of valuable vaccine research
through various studies, publications, and knowledge translation
activities, both in Canada and internationally.
As PCIRN conducts its close-out year, several of its current initiatives
and infrastructures will be retired or absorbed into CIRN.
PCIRN Program Delivery and Evaluation (PDE)
Network
Led by Dr. Jeff Kwong, the Program Delivery and
Evaluation (PDE) Network conducted applied research
evaluating public health strategies to improve infl uenza
immunization uptake. The network focused on the
following projects in its wrap-up year of 2014-15:
Randomized Evaluation of Live Attenuated
vs. Inactivated infl uenza Vaccines in Schools
(RELATIVES): Pilot Study sought to evaluate the
feasibility of administering LAIV vs. IIV via schools,
based on uptake, stakeholder acceptability, and cost. Impact of Pharmacist Delivery of Infl uenza
Led by Dr. Jeff Kwong, the study found that use of Vaccines on Coverage focused on the impact of
LAIV in school-based clinics was associated with pharmacist delivery of infl uenza vaccines in Canada. The
increased vaccine uptake and the perception among analysis is currently being conducted by a PhD student,
school principals and immunization staff of reduced Sarah Buchan, under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Kwong.
child anxiety, but also higher vaccine administration
costs, compared to IIV. A sub-study demonstrated that Mixed Methods Examination of the 2012-
conducting surveillance for infl uenza on vaccinated 2015 British Columbia Infl uenza Prevention
students and their household members is feasible and Policy study examined the impact of the BC Infl uenza
provided suggestive evidence that vaccinating school Prevention Policy on immunization rates among
children with LAIV confers greater direct and indirect healthcare workers. More specifi cally, the study had two
protection than IIV. research foci: a case study of how one implements a
2015 ANNUAL REPORT 9
