Nor-vaC
Immunological response to COVID-19 vaccine in patients on immunosuppressive treatment
Project Manager
PhD fellow
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the immunological response to COVID-19 vaccines in people who take immunosuppressive medication due to chronic disease in the gastrointestinal system or joints. The Nor-vaC study wants to clarify whether the usual vaccination program against Covid-19 provides sufficient protection in people who use immunosuppressive drugs. It is also of great importance to find out how long the vaccine protects, and whether people who use immunosuppressive drugs need more vaccine doses after a while, in order to maintain good protection against the virus.
In Norway, at least 34,000 people are in this category. The purpose of vaccinating against COVID-19 is to teach the immune system to recognize this virus. If the immune system is suppressed by medication, this may mean that the response to the vaccine will be weak. We know from the past that some immunosuppressive medicines can reduce the effect of the flu vaccine, and thus reduce the protection of the vaccine. We do not know whether people using such medication have weaker or shorter protection against COVID-19 after vaccination than the normal population has. We also do not know whether certain types of immunosuppressive medication weaken the vaccine response more than other types of immunosuppressive medication can. However, it is of great importance to survey whether vaccines against SARS-CoV2 produce a strong and lasting immune response. If the immune response after vaccination is weakened in those who use immunosuppressive drugs, this may mean that this group of people needs more vaccine doses. It may also mean that the important, immunosuppressive medication they are on must be adjusted, so that the vaccine can have a better effect.
The Nor-vaC study is a collaborative project between Diakonhjemmet Hospital, the Institute of Public Health (FHI), the Department of Immunology at Oslo University Hospital (OUS) and Akershus University Hospital (AHUS). The results of the study will help FHI to design the best possible vaccine advice for people who use immunosuppressive drugs.
The research project is expected to be of great importance to people with rheumatic diseases and diseases of the intestines and liver. The results will be able to form the basis for vaccine recommendations and treatment recommendations for this patient group during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The study may also have consequences for treatment advice and advice on vaccines beyond the current pandemic. The research question about the strength and duration of COVID vaccine protection is of great interest to the patient group also globally, because we currently have very little knowledge.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Patients from the Rheumatology Department of Diakonhjemmet Hospital and from the Gastromedicine Department at AHUS on immunosuppressive treatment have been asked to participate.
Recruitment of participants in the study has been completed.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY INVOLVE?
The participants in the study take a blood test before and after each vaccine dose against COVID-19. Some of the participants take extended blood tests for particularly thorough mapping of how well the immune system has reacted to the vaccine. During the first part of the study period, blood tests were taken to antibody measurements. Now only samples are taken from a few participants, and these samples are taken for such extended analyzes of the immune response. The study plans to follow the vaccine response of the participants for up to 5 years.
Vaccines are placed locally in the district/municipality where the patient lives.