VAANZ is working with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the World Health Organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and vaccine developers to strengthen the New Zealand contribution to COVID-19 vaccine programmes. New Zealand Government funding may be available through VAANZ to support clinical trials.

Examples of clinical studies which could be supported in New Zealand: 

• Safety and immunogenicity studies in special populations such as children and adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, immunocompromised
• Confirmatory safety and immunogenicity in Māori and Pacific populations
• Expanded safety and immunogenicity in adults and elderly 
• Alternative dosing regimens to enhance immunogenicity in elderly populations, eg higher antigen dose, or prime-boost approaches with another vaccine 
• Fractional dosing regimens to conserve vaccine supply 
• Advanced immunologic characterisation studies to improve vaccine platforms, including: 

+ Detailed characterisation of cellular immune response 

+ Systems serology to characterise functional antibody responses

+ OMICS to characterise host responses; stratification by age, race and other demographics; explore predictive biomarkers and inform future vaccine regimens 

+ Antibody arrays to understand impact of previous Coronavirus exposure and impact on vaccine induced responses 

• Seasonal studies of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination which will benefit from the comprehensive nationwide electronic medical record and Southern hemisphere ability to predict vaccine performance in the Northern hemisphere

VAANZ selected clinical partners 

Medical Research Institute of New Zealand  

Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust

Auckland Clinical Studies 

Middlemore Clinical Trials 

Optimal Clinical Trials 

Lakeland Trials 

Southern Clinical Trials Group