Actively Recruiting
COVID-19 Transmission and Morbidity in Malawi
Led by Boston University · Updated on 2025-06-27
1500
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
267 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
B
Boston University
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
SARS-CoV-2 transmission was expected to have a devastating impact in sub-Saharan African countries. Instead, morbidity and mortality rates in nearly the whole region are an order of magnitude lower than in Europe and the Americas. To identify what is different requires a better understanding of the underlying immunological substrate of the population, and how these factors affect susceptibility to infection, progression of symptoms, transmission, and responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Study objectives 1. Determine the risk and predictors of infection and disease among contacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection subjects in Malawi 2. Determine whether innate immune responses lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease, and acquisition and duration of vaccine responses. 3. Assess whether alterations in innate immune responses relevant to SARS-CoV-2 are associated with malaria or intestinal parasite infections. 4. Assess the acquisition and longevity of antibodies (Ab) and cellular adaptive responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. 5. Assess whether malaria and intestinal parasite infections, chronic/mild undernutrition, and anemia mediate alterations in Ab and other adaptive cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 through innate immune responses or a different unknown mechanism.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
COVID-19 Transmission and Morbidity in Malawi
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- For index cases: symptomatic with confirmed COVID-19 by RT-PCR or rapid antigen test
- Aged 5 to 75 years and plans to live in Blantyre for the next 6 months
- Lives with one or more eligible household members
- Has not received a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the previous 3 months
- Willing to comply with study procedures and provide informed consent
- For household contacts: aged 5 to 75 years and plans to live in Blantyre for 6 months
- Willing to comply with study procedures and provide informed consent
- Has not received a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the previous 3 months
- For vaccinees: aged 18 to 75 years
- Willing to receive AstraZeneca and/or Johnson & Johnson vaccines
- Not part of index case or household contact groups
- Willing to comply with study procedures and provide informed consent
- Has not received any prior SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose
You will not qualify if you...
- Conditions preventing adherence to visit schedule
- Fifty percent or more of household members refuse participation (index cases only)
- Pregnancy at enrollment
- Long-term use of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis
- For household contacts, two consecutive negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests exclude from visits after month 1
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
BU School of Public Health, Global Health Department
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02118
Active, Not Recruiting
2
Health center
Blantyre, Malawi
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Clarissa Valim, MD ScD
CONTACT
A
Aditi S Kothari, BDS MDSc MPH
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here