Description
This webinar is for health care and public health professionals. It features experts from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) who will present National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidance updates on COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season. The duration of the webinar is 60 minutes, including a brief Q&A at the end of the session.
Time and Date
English: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 12:00 to 13:00 (ET)
French: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 12:00 to 13:00 (ET)
Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Summarize the epidemiology of COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and RSV.
- Describe available immunization products and current NACI guidance.
- Utilize key resources related to these respiratory viruses, including NACI statements and the Canadian Immunization Guide (CIG).
Moderator
Dr. Willy Dunbar, MD, PhD, is a public health researcher and knowledge mobilization specialist with expertise in infectious diseases, climate and health, One Health, and health systems. He currently serves as Knowledge Translation Project Lead and Knowledge Mobilization Hub Manager at NCCID. He has worked across Canada and the Americas on research, policy, and capacity-building initiatives. His work focuses on translating evidence into practice and strengthening collaboration among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and communities. Dr. Dunbar holds a PhD in Public Health Sciences and an MD, and is committed to advancing equitable and evidence-informed public health action.
Speakers
Dr. Marina Salvadori, MD, FRCPC, is a pediatrician and infectious diseases specialist. She is very interested in vaccines, immunization education and advocacy. She is a Senior Medical Advisor at PHAC, and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McGill.
Nicole Forbes, PhD, is a Senior Scientific Project Coordinator, at the NACI Secretariat. She has worked at PHAC providing technical leadership on vaccine guidance since 2021. Nicole’s academic background is in virology, and researched adaptive mutations in Influenza A virus during her doctoral studies at the University of Ottawa. Nicole then conducted postdoctoral training at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, exploring small-molecule mediated optimization of vaccine and viral vector production. Since joining PHAC, Nicole has supported NACI as a technical lead on several files including HPV, mpox and other orthopoxviruses, COVID-19, and Measles.
Dr. Winnie Siu, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC, is a public health physician and Senior Medical Advisor at the NACI Secretariat, PHAC. She also practices as a family doctor and is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. She obtained her medical degree and specialty training in public health at the University of Toronto, and a Master of Science in Health Policy, Planning and Financing at the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Elissa Abrams, MD, MPH, FRCPC, is a Senior Medical Advisor at the NACI Secretariat, PHAC; Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy, University of Manitoba; Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia; President, Allergy Section, Canadian Pediatric Society; Board Member, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.