A novel zoonotic coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan (Hubei Province, China) mid-December2019 and was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Thevirus rapidly spread to the rest of the world, including Europe and explicitly affectsthe respiratory system, generating Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).This study is a monocentric interventional prospective and retrospective cohort study.After signing a written informed consent, participants will be recruited forquestionnaire completion and blood sampling. Sample storage and analysis will beperformed at the laboratory of microbiology of the UZ Brussel.To document SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and seroconversion among employees of the UZBrussel after mRNA vaccination for SARS-CoV-2, namely at 8 weeks after first vaccination,6 months after first vaccination and 12 months after first vaccination.
A novel zoonotic coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan (Hubei Province, China) mid-December
2019 and was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The
virus rapidly spread to the rest of the world, including Europe and explicitly affects
the respiratory system, generating Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
UZ Brussel employees presenting symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 are offered to be tested
with real-time PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs. As asymptomatic infections have been
described and as the PCR can be negative when taken late after onset of symptoms,
serologic tests can be performed. The SARS-CoV 2003 epidemic demonstrated that
serological assays were a useful diagnostic tool of non-acute infections. Although it is
still uncertain whether convalescing patients have a risk of re-infection, recent data
suggest that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies could protect at least for some time from subsequent
viral exposures.
As the COVID-19 pandemic had devastating medical, economic and social consequences, safe
and effective prophylactic vaccines were urgently needed. And thus several candidate
vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been developed. During the first weeks of the
vaccination campaign, the health care workers of the UZ Brussel, were invited to receive
the BNT162b2 (Pfizer) vaccine.
Consequently, the investigators aim to prospectively document the SARS-CoV-2
seroprevalence and seroconversion among vaccinated employees of the UZ Brussel, at three
different time points, namely 6 weeks (+/- 2 weeks; T1), 6 months (+/- 1 month; T2) and
12 months (+/- 1 month; T3) after the second vaccination.
Diagnostic Test: serological testing
Antibody testing for Sars-COV-2 antibodies in blood.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Any adult employee of the UZ Brussel at T1 who has been vaccinated at the UZ Brussel
with mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty®) between the 19th of January and the 5th of
February 2021 after participating to phase 4 of the COVEMUZ study (with a maximum of
5 days difference between blood drawel and vaccination) and has provided a signed
informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- UZ Brussel employees not active during the inclusion period (T1).
Universitair ziekenhuis Brussel
Brussels, Belgium
Not Provided