The study by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) which seeks to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of immunization with different combinations of Covid-19 vaccines continues to recruit volunteers.

To participate in the research and contribute to the science produced in Brazil, volunteers must be between 18 and 55 years and have taken three doses of vaccines Fiocruz/AstraZeneca, CoronaVac or Pfizer, in any combination. Pregnant women and people undergoing corticosteroid treatment cannot participate.

Those interested in participating should send an email or WhatsApp message to the project team in their state. The contacts are:

• Rio de Janeiro: interchangeabilityRJ@fiocruz.br | (21) 96527-0123
• Bahia: interchangeBA@fiocruz.br | (71) 99379-0038
• Rondônia: interchangeabilityRO@fiocruz.br | (69) 98135-0023
• Paraná: interchangeSUL@fiocruz.br | (41) 99786-0092
• Mato Grosso do Sul: intercambialidadeMS@fiocruz.br | (67) 98127-0224 

The evolution of the immune response will be monitored for at least one year, with interviews and collection of blood samples and nasal swabs at two stages: at the time of recruitment and after six months. It will be recorded whether any adverse effects were found after vaccination and cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, researchers will analyze the production of antibodies and the cellular immune response against the new coronavirus. 

“We have a scenario of high occurrence of vaccine interchangeability in the country. Considering the miscegenation of the Brazilian population, it is important to carry out a broad investigation of the immune response to clarify how combinations of immunizers induce protection and the duration of immunity. This information can contribute to establishing more effective vaccination schemes”, highlights the project coordinator and researcher at the Immunopharmacology Laboratory at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz), Adriana Vallochi, adding that the investigation can contribute to the planning of the National Immunization Program (PNI). A total of 2.500 volunteers will be accompanied.

In addition to characterizing the immune response profile and the duration of immunity induced by different vaccine regimens, the researchers will seek to discover molecules that can be used as protective biomarkers. 

They will also investigate whether genetic characteristics of individuals influence the response to vaccines. Considering the cases of infection, the research should also identify the viral variants involved, helping to evaluate the effectiveness of immunizers against different strains of the new coronavirus.

In all, six units of the Fiocruz act in the research. With national coordination of IOC, the project is developed in partnership with the Institute of Technology in Immunobiologicals (Bio-Manguinhos), Fiocruz Rondônia, Fiocruz Mato Grosso do Sul, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz (Fiocruz Bahia) and Carlos Chagas Institute (FiocParaná cross). 

The initial phase of the project had the support of the Vice-Presidency of Research and Biological Collections of the Fiocroz, from the direction of IOC and the Fernandes Figueira National Institute of Women, Children and Adolescents' Health (IFF/Fiocruz). At the IOC, the Laboratories of Immunopharmacology, Biotechnology and Physiology of Viral Infections and Research on Thymus participate. 

The research 'Vaccine interchangeability: virological and immunological surveillance of Covid-19 in the national population' was approved by the National Research Ethics Commission (Conep), under the Certificate of Presentation of Ethical Appreciation (CAAE): 51345021.5.1001.5248.