About CANVAS

About the CANVAS-COVID Study

Why: The purpose of this study is to find out how often health events occur after a COVID-19 or influenza vaccine. The CANVAS surveillance network complements Canada’s passive vaccine safety surveillance system with rapid information early in the COVID-19 and influenza vaccine campaign. 

Parents can enrol any child 6 months to 4 years of age if they have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or any child 5 years of age or older if they have received three or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or a dose of influenza vaccine (separately or at the same time as COVID-19.  Any adult 20 years or older can enrol if they have received three or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or a dose of influenza vaccine (separately or at the same time as COVID-19. 

Who:  You can take part in this study if you have an email address, telephone number and a device to answer online surveys. If  your child is 6 months to 4 years of age and has been vaccinated in the last 7 days click here. If you or your child is 5 years or older and have been vaccinated with a third or fourth COVID-19 dose or influenza vaccine in the last 7 days click here. If it has been longer than 7 days since you or your child’s first vaccine you cannot participate.

Where: This study will take place in 8 provinces and territories: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, PEI , Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

How your participation makes a difference: 

By joining our study you are contributing valuable early data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in Canadians. Post-marketing vaccine safety surveillance is an important step in ensuring vaccine safety.

Study Activities

Study participants who are 6 months to 4 years will be asked to complete three online surveys:

  • 8 days AFTER your child gets the first COVID-19 vaccine
  • 8 days AFTER your child gets the second COVID-19 vaccine
  • 6 months AFTER your child’s second COVID-19 vaccine

Study participants who are 5 years or older will be asked to complete one online survey:

  • 8 days AFTER you (your child) get your (their) most recent dose of the COVID-19 or influenza vaccine

The surveys will collect basic demographics data about the participant (you or your child’s age, sex, gender, underlying health conditions) and any information about illnesses since the last vaccine. 

If you report a health problem which required a medical visit, we may call you to find out more about the symptoms of the health problem. 


CANVAS History

The Canadian National Vaccine Safety (CANVAS) network is designed to conduct active safety surveillance for pandemic vaccines (e.g., H1N1 influenza vaccine in 2009), seasonal influenza vaccines (2010-2020) and other new vaccines (e.g., meningococcal B vaccine in Quebec in 2014) to inform public health authorities about their safety.