About the Conference

More than 1,200 immunization experts are expected to gather at the Quebec City Convention Centre from December 5-8, 2010.

The Conference will bring together non-governmental organizations, vaccine manufacturers, provincial and territorial immunization policy and program planners as well as professionals from the many disciplines involved in the immunization field.

The 9th Canadian Immunization Conference is co-chaired by Dr. John Spika, Director General of the Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases and Dr. Shelley Deeks, Medical Epidemiologist, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, and CAIRE representative.

Two main committees share the responsibilities of planning the conference: the Organizing Committee and the Operations Committee; both supported by the Conference Coordination Team.

• Conference Goals
• Who Should Attend?
• Conference Organizing Committees
• Conference Language Policy

Conference Goals

Through the conference theme, "Immunization: A Global Challenge for the 21st Century", the scientific program will offer sessions that will help participants to:

• Gain insight into how emerging vaccinology science is contributing to the advancement in vaccines and immunization practices and programs;
• Learn scientific and programmatic information essential for safe and competent immunization practices;
• Explore international programs and innovative approaches to improve immunization programs from concept, to implementation and evaluation;
• Review communication techniques, strategies and tools to effectively address immunization issues; and
• Increase opportunities for networking, partnership and collaboration in the immunization field.

Who Should Attend?

• researchers and scientists;
• physicians;
• nurses;
• public health nurses and doctors;
• epidemiologists;
• pharmacists;
• vaccine experts;
• health promoters;
• academia;
• public health policy makers;
• biotechnology and vaccine industry representatives;
• vaccines regulators; and
• students and trainees.

Conference Organizing Committees

Two main committees were established to guide the planning of the conference: the Organizing Committee and the Operations Committee, both supported by the Conference Coordination Team.

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The Organizing Committee

• Dr. John Spika, Co-chair
  Director General
  Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases
  Public Health Agency of Canada
  
• Dr. Shelley Deeks, Co-Chair
  Medical Epidemiologist
  Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion
  Representing the Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation
  
• Ms. Gordean Bjornson
  Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation
  
• Dr. Robert Bortolussi
  Canadian Centre for Vaccinology
  IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University
  Representing the Canadian Paediatric Society
  
• Dr. Susan Bowles
  Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
  Representing the Canadian Pharmacists Association
  
• Ms. Gillian Butler
  Department of Health and Community Services, Newfoundland
  Representing Canada’s Atlantic Region
  
• Dr. Allison Chris
  University of Toronto
  Representing the National Specialty Society of Community Medicine
• Ms. Marie Adèle Davis
  Canadian Paediatric Society
• Ms. Mahnaz Farhangmehr
  Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases Public Health Agency of Canada
• Dr. Ian Gemmill
  Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health
  Representing the Province of Ontario
  
• Ms. Dawn Grakist
  Ottawa Public Health
  Representing the Canadian Nurses Association
  
• Dr. Bonnie Henry
  British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
  Representing the Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness and Promotion
  
• Dr. David Huffman
  Family Physician, Ontario
  Representing the College of Family Physicians of Canada
  
• Dr. Joanne Langley
  Canadian Centre for Vaccinology
  IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University
  Representing National Advisory Council on Immunization
  
• Dr. Carole Legare
  Centre for Biologics Evaluation, Health Canada
  
• Ms. Michelle M. Long
  Public Health Division, Manitoba Health
  Representing the Canadian Nursing Coalition for Immunization
  
• Ms. Debra Lynkowski
  Canadian Public Health Association
  
• Ms. Vicki MacMurdo
  First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada
  
• Dr. Shelley McNeil
  Dalhousie University
  Representing the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada
  
• Dr. Louise Pelletier
  Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases
  Public Health Agency of Canada
  
• Dr. Chantal Sauvageau
  Institut national de santé publique du Québec
  Representing Quebec City
  
• Dr. Phillip Schwab
  BIOTECanada
  
• Dr. Bhagirath Singh
  CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity
  
• Ms. Jill Skinner
  Canadian Medical Association
  
• Ms. Rosalie Tuchscherer
  Saskatchewan Ministry of Health
  Representing Canada’s Western Region
  
• Dr. Bruno Turmel
  Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec
  Representing the Province of Quebec
  

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The Operations Committee

• Mr. Keith Pritchard, Co-Chair
  A/Director, Immunization
  Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases
  Public Health Agency of Canada
  
• Ms. Marie Adèle Davis, Co-Chair
  Executive Director
  Canadian Paediatric Society
  
• Ms. Gordean Bjornson
  Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation
  
• Dr. François Desbiens
  Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (Québec)
  Representing Quebec City
  
• Mr. Graeme Fraser
  BIOTECanada
  
• Ms. Michelle M. Long
  Public Health Division, Manitoba Health
  Representing the Canadian Nursing Coalition on Immunization
  
• Ms. Debra Lynkowski
  Canadian Public Health Association
  
• Ms. Vicki Macmurdo
  First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada
  

The Awards Committee

• Dr. Gaston De Serres, Chair
  Institut national de santé publique du Québec
  
• Ms. Mary Appleton
  IWK Health Centre
  
• Dr. Greg Hammond
  Manitoba Health and Healthy Living
  
• Dr. Shainoor Ismail
  Public Health Agency of Canada
  

The Conference Coordination Team

• Ms. Josée Lynch
  Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases
  Public Health Agency of Canada
  
• Ms. Beverley Webster
  Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases
  Public Health Agency of Canada
• Ms. Mériem Bougrassa
  Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases
  Public Health Agency of Canada
• Mr Phil Ecclestone
  Golden Planners Inc.
  

Conference Secretariat
Golden Planners Inc.
Telephone: (613) 241-9333
Facsimile: (613) 565-2173
E-mail: immunconf2010@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Conference Language Policy

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided at all plenary sessions, oral abstract presentations and concurrent sessions.

The language of the speaker’s presentation will be indicated in the Final Program. We encourage participants to use the official language in which they are most comfortable by using interpretation headsets which will be provided upon request.