COVID CommUNITY - South Asian Investigating Vaccine Access, Immunogenicity, Effectiveness and Safety among High-Risk Populations (South Asian)[Funder: PHRI]

The COVID CommUNITY - South Asian study is being conducted to understand the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine and its safety in South Asians (people from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh), who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and have worse outcomes from COVID-19 infection compared to other groups. The study also aims to understand why some people may be less confident in getting the COVID-19 vaccine, and the overall impact of COVID-19 in this community. The study will provide insight into how a pandemic of this scale can be prevented in the community and vulnerable populations. Participants for the study are being recruited: i. From vaccination or assessment centres in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Email: covidcommunity@phri.ca ii. From vaccination or assessment centres in the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA). Email: pure@sfu.ca iii. By re-contacting participants (18+) from our on-going prospective cohort studies via telephone/email. Dried blood spots for assessment of antibodies to COVID vaccination are being collected from all participants.