What is the study about?
The study will collect blood and saliva samples from COVID 19 vaccinees in Victoria for future research. This will include people who may have an altered response to the COVID 19 vaccines. WH Renal Research will recruit participants with co-morbidities, including chronic kidney disease. Other teams will recruit participants from the general population, healthcare workers, participants previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, participants with HIV, participants > 70 years old, pregnant women and participants who are immunosuppressed.
Who’s involved?
Recruitment at Western Health is led by infectious disease specialist, A/Prof Marion Kainer and Prof Eugenia Pedagogos from Renal Research.
The other sites that are participating are Austin Health, Monash Health, and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
What are the anticipated outcomes?
The Victorian COVID-19 Vaccinees Collection (VC²) is a collaborative project hosted at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. Samples collected as part of the project will support research to understand the immune response and long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccines. By including a wide selection of groups at risk of altered vaccine responses, this research can continue to inform ongoing risk management, including recommendations for additional vaccine doses.