COVID-19 Projects Underway

EvOLVE ScR

SYNOPSIS

Early evidence for COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness came from randomised trials. However, many important policy questions were subsequently answered by studies using real-world data. As these questions evolved, so to did the data, study designs, and analytic techniques used. This scoping review hopes to map out this evolution in the literature of COVID-19 effectiveness studies using real world data. In doing so we hope to identify options for VE studies and inform policy makers on the minimal data and analytic infrastructure needed to support rapid RWS of VE in future pandemics and of healthcare strategies more broadly.

PUBLICATIONS

Stehlik, P., Dowsett, C., Camacho, X., Falster, M. O., Lim, R., Nasreen, S., ... & Henry, D. (2024). Evolution of the data and methods in real-world COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness studies on mortality: a scoping review protocol. BMJ open, 14(3), e079071. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079071

Completed COVID-19 Projects

Repeat testing for SARS‐CoV‐2: persistence of viral RNA is common, and clearance is slower in older people

SYNOPSIS

Early in the pandemic I was asked to advise on analysis of PCR tests for presence of SARS-CoV-2 in locally collected nasopharyngeal swabs to determine the need for repeat testing. This project widened to include an evaluation of all PCR tests processed by Queensland Pathology up until the 4th June 2020. This project was a collaboration between Bond University EBP unit, Gold Coast Health’s Infectious Diseases and Public Health departments, Queensland Pathology, and Queensland Health’s Forensic and Scientific Services. This research demonstrated the persistence of (non-replicating) viral fragments for many weeks in some individuals and a significantly slower clearance of the virus in older subjects. The results of this work were published in the MJA (2021), have been presented at the special edition Australasian COVID-19 Virtual Conference (2020) and the Gold Coast Health Research, Innovation and Quality Week Conference (2020) and have contributed to a policy to stop repeat PCR testing except in specific circumstances.

PUBLICATIONS

Stehlik, P., et al., Repeat testing for SARS‐CoV‐2: persistence of viral RNA is common, and clearance is slower in older people. The Medical Journal of Australia, 2021. 214(10): p. 468. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51036

Effectiveness of COVID‐19 vaccines: findings from real‐world studies

SYNOPSIS

During the pandemic we established hospital wide COVID19 Journal Clubs. During these we evaluated the first five studies of the real‐world effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccines. We found evidence of protection against serious illness and death but noted the difficulties in performing such studies in Australia. This was because of the (then) low national case numbers and lack of ready access to the necessary linked health data.

PUBLICATIONS

Henry, D.A., et al., Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines: findings from real world studies. Medical Journal of Australia, 2021. 215(4): p. 149-151.e1. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51182

Impact of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID: a systematic review and meta-analysis

SYNOPSIS

We conducted a systematic review on the impact of COVID-19 vaccinations on long COVID. Current studies suggest that COVID-19 vaccinations may have protective and therapeutic effects on long COVID. However, more robust comparative observational studies and trials are urgently needed to clearly determine effectiveness of vaccines in prevention and treatment of long COVID.

PUBLICATIONS

Oyungerel Byambasuren, Paulina Stehlik, Justin Clark, Kylie Alcorn, Paul Glasziou - Effect of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID: systematic review: BMJ Medicine 2023; 2:e000385.