Overview
The LINK-VACC project links selected variables from existing registries for COVID-19 vaccine surveillance, in order to ensure the monitoring of COVID- 19 vaccines in the phase following their marketing authorization (post-authorization surveillance). This includes the measurement of uptake and coverage of the vaccination, the estimation of vaccine effectiveness, and continuous monitoring of the vaccine’s safety. For these purposes, existing pseudonymized data on COVID-19 laboratory test results, hospitalized COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 vaccinations, underlying health problems, socio-demographic and -economic factors, and healthcare worker status are linked.
The protocol of the LINK-VACC project was approved by the medical ethics committee University Hospital Brussels – Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) on 03/02/2021 (reference number 2020/523) and obtained authorization from the Information Security Committee (ISC) Social Security and Health (reference number IVC/KSZG/21/034).
The project is funded by the Belgian Federal Authorities
Demographics
Dataset
National registry number (pseudonymized)
The individual-level datasets generated or analyzed during the current study do not fulfill the requirements for open data access. The data is too dense and comprehensive to preserve patient privacy. The data of the individual data sources (Clinical Hospital Survey, Vaccinnet+, COVID-19 TestResult Database, and StatBel) within the LINK-VACC project are kept in the pseudonymized environment of healthdata.be, and a link between the individual data in each of them takes place thanks to the use of a pseudonymized national reference number managed by healthdata.be under a ‘project mandate’. A ‘project mandate’ consists of a group of individuals, a group of variables, and a time period. Access rights to the pseudonymized data in the healthdata.be data warehouse are granted ad nominatum for the scientists involved in the surveillance activities at Sciensano.
External investigators with a request for selected data should fill in the data request form (https://epistat.wiv-isp.be/datarequest). Depending on the type of desired data (anonymous or pseudonymized), the provision of data will have to be assessed by the Belgian Information Security Committee Social Security & Health based on legal and ethical regulations, and is outlined in a data transfer agreement with the data owner (Sciensano).
Contact
Rue Juliette Wytsman, 14
1050 Brussels
Belgium