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
Get in touch
For more information on COVID-19 vaccine clinical resources available in New Zealand or to discuss partnership or collaboration opportunities, please contact:
Dr Kjesten Wiig, VAANZ Executive Director
[email protected]