In short
New variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to emerge, becoming increasingly adept at evading immunity from previous infections and vaccinations. In addition, acquired immune protection declines over time, necessitating additional boost vaccinations, particularly for people with weakened immune systems. In this study, we aim to monitor SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity 3 times a year over the next 4 years, including during future vaccination campaigns.
Project description
In collaboration with several Belgian universities, hospitals and institutes, Sciensano has set up a consortium to facilitate and streamline the organisation of COVID-19 vaccination studies, mainly in immunocompromised populations, such as lung and kidney transplant recipients and hemodialysed patients. The constant emergence of new variants of concern (VOCs), which are increasingly able to evade infection and vaccine induced immune responses, together with waning immunity over time, justify additional vaccination cycles. This is especially true in immunocompromised populations. In the current study, we aim to continue monitoring SARS-CoV-2 specific immunity over the next 4 years in healthy and immune-compromised populations, encompassing several future vaccination campaigns.
A non-commercial multicenter academic prospective cohort study is conducted in immunocompromised populations and healthy adults for four years. These healthy people were recruited from the previously organised PICOV-VAC study (members of nursing home staff) and REDU-VAC study (working-age population) while the immunocompromised participants were recruited from the previously established cohorts: PICOV-VAC (nursing home residents), Lung-VAC (lung transplant recipients) and Nephro-VAC (kidney transplant recipients and hemodialyzed patients). Participants are sampled three times a year independently of the vaccinations which are administered through regular channels not linked to the study itself.
The main goal of this study is to monitor immune responses over time in these populations. The primary objective is to assess binding and neutralising antibody levels against the epidemiologically predominant VOCs and the SARS-CoV-2 wild type (Wuhan strain). This will allow us to determine to which extent extra booster doses can or cannot induce more (binding) and/or better (neutralising) antibodies to different variants as compared to peak responses achieved after previous vaccination doses and to study waning of these responses after winter periods.
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