Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
University Medical Center Utrecht
University Medical Center Utrecht in 2009 Calpa Wikimedia Commons CC-0
Health
Coronavirus
Covid-19
UMC Utrecht
Utrecht University
Project ACCESS
EMA
European Medicines Agency
WHO
World Health Organization
Miriam Sturkenboom
RIVM
Pharmo Institute
Lareb
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 - 13:47
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Netherlands takes key role in coronavirus vaccines, EU cooperation

Dutch researchers are going to play a leading role in monitoring the safety and efficacy of vaccines against the coronavirus in Europe. This project was commissioned by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and will be led by UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University. Project ACCESS will focus on preparing Europe to properly and jointly monitor the effectiveness and safety of Covid-19 vaccines that enter the market. 

The researchers will investigate how often Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, occurs both with and without vaccination. In the coming months, the researchers will map out how the disease spreads and presents itself in different communities, before anyone is vaccinated against it. This will be done using available historical, anonymous care data from more than 100 million people in seven European countries, including the Netherlands. 

Once a vaccine is approved and released for use, the researchers will continue to monitor Covid-19's spread and presentation. By comparing the before and after vaccination data, the researchers will be able to determine how effective the vaccine is.

They will also keep a close eye out for rare side effects and syndromes that may not have been revealed in the clinical trials. A list of side effects will then be drawn up, in collaboration with the EMA and World Health Organization (WHO).

It is very important to be prepared, said Miriam Sturkenboom, professor of Observational Data Analysis and working at UMC Utrecht. "Normally, the development of a vaccine takes about 10 to 15 years, now that has to be done within a year," she explained. "The developers do not skip any steps, but they accelerate every step. If a vaccine comes on the market, it will probably only have been tested in several thousand people. Because of the short lead time, the research group is limited and certain subgroups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children will hardly have been included in the research."

A total of 22 European organizations are involved in this project, including Dutch public health institute RIVM, side effects center Lareb, and the Pharmo Institute - a research institute located in Utrecht. 

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Acute care leader: "Race against time" against 3rd coronavirus wave; Covid hospital total stable
  • NL provides extra support for girls’ education in developing countries
  • Rijksmuseum puts female artists in Honor Gallery for first time ever
  • Left-wing politics needed to make Netherlands fairer: Labour party leader
  • Dutch gov't wants Covid passport to give immune people more freedom
  • Hundreds attend Baudet election events in Helmond and Eindhoven

Top Stories

  • Acute care leader: "Race against time" against 3rd coronavirus wave; Covid hospital total stable
  • Proof of negative test results could help reopen NL faster: Covid think tank
  • 28 arrested at anti-lockdown protest in Amsterdam
  • Netherlands extending travel alerts to April 15; Child swim lessons to restart soon: Reports
  • Infections down 2 percent for the calendar week; hospitalizations stay the same
  • Virologist says he sees merit in opening terraces if it is well regulated

© 2012-2021 NLTimes.nl, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact