Study Summary

The SPRINT-KIDS surveillance network tracks real-time trends in respiratory viruses among children seeking hospital care across the country. It is designed to rapidly identify changes in the epidemiology of common respiratory infections, such as COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) providing timely information to clinicians, public health leaders, and the public. The monitoring system incorporates detailed vaccination histories, medical interventions, and outcome data to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the burden of these viruses and evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing health outcomes requiring a hospital visit, while monitoring for any adverse events following immunization. The SPRINT-KIDS surveillance network works with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to support their public health surveillance mandate. SPRINT-KIDS is a nation-wide 14-site, hospital-based system that consists of three project arms: Monitoring Vaccine Safety, Measuring Vaccine Effectiveness, and Tracking Respiratory Infections. Data collected in all three SPRINT-KIDS project arms is shared in real time with PHAC to inform public health policies, and respiratory illness data is also published on a public dashboard.

Objectives

1. To learn more about vaccine safety, assess the frequency and possible associations between vaccines and adverse events, and monitor their severity and impact on children, ensuring the safety of vaccines administered to children in Canada.
2. To measure vaccine effectiveness.
3. To monitor and track severe respiratory illness in children due to vaccine preventable viruses.

Overall Project Lead: Dr. Stephen Freedman

Project Manager: Jeffrey Cheng

Study Team: Meet our team