Toward Enhancing COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence among African Canadians: Sustainability of Immune Responses and Safety Profiles [seroMARK-VR, study data contributed to the CITF Databank]

<b>Background: </b>Data on COVID-19 suggests that Black Canadians are disproportionately affected by the disease, with higher percentages of cases and severe outcomes than the general population.<br>
<b>Aims of the original study: </b>The study aimed to assess the immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines among Black Canadians and to monitor the duration of immunity. They also aimed to identify any differences in the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines between Black and non-Black Canadians. <br>
<b>Methods: </b>This cohort study recruited Black Canadians and non-Black Canadians across Canada who had received a COVID-19 vaccine. Blood tests were conducted at four time points over the course of 12 months before and after vaccination, to follow up on their immune response to the vaccine. Participants were also surveyed to find out if they experienced any adverse events after vaccination. <br>
<b>Summary of the contributed data: </b>the datasets include 1490 participants from Toronto who completed baseline survey between July 2020 and April 2024. 495 participants (33%) continued follow-up surveys, and 1 new participant was recruited during follow-up stage (contributed one or more times of follow-up visit). All participants gave one or more serology samples between July 2021 and April 2024.
For London area, the datasets include 102 participants who completed survey, and all participants gave one serology sample between December 2021 and February 2023.
Variables include data in the following areas of information: demographics (age, gender, race-ethnicity, occupation), general health (lung disease, heart disease, immunosuppression, height and weight, flu vaccine), longitudinal follow up for COVID infection (test date and result, hospitalization), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and serology.