Media release

From: Telethon Kids Institute

Optimising our national Covid-19 vaccine program could be one step closer thanks to new research now underway at Telethon Kids Institute investigating the most effective, long-term strategies for booster vaccinations.

The Platform Trial in Covid-19 Vaccine Boosting (PICOBOO) will investigate whether immunity can be maximised by “mixing” vaccine booster types and how long this protection lasts, as well as evaluate how strategies may need to differ depending on age and previously administered Covid-19 vaccines.

Funded by a $4.1 million grant from the Federal Government through the Medical Research Future Fund, the three-year project will also examine whether multiple variants of Covid-19 have the same reaction to vaccine boosters.

Led by Professor Peter Richmond, Head of the Vaccines Trials Group at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at Telethon Kids Institute and Head of Paediatrics at UWA Medical School, the results of PICOBOO will be rapidly disseminated and translated to inform national and potentially global COVID-19 immunisation practice and policy.

“Australians have had access to Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines, as well as the Astra Zeneca viral vector vaccine and now Novavax, so this research will provide high-quality data to determine which vaccine combinations work best in providing the strongest initial antibody response and long-lasting immune protection,” said Professor Richmond.

“It is currently unclear if additional COVID-19 booster vaccination will be necessary soon and, if so, whether fourth and future booster doses will be required for all Australians or only select age groups or vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant women and those with other medical conditions.

“People are also seeking answers on what the future holds with Covid-19 as a regular fixture in our lives, such as if there will be a need for an annual Covid-19 vaccine like influenza and if booster vaccinations will be required before travelling overseas to places where other strains may be dominant.

“This research will play a vital role in answering these questions and ensuring we have the best possible Covid-19 vaccine strategy for all Australians going forward, as well as providing ongoing surveillance to tailor the program as additional variants of the virus emerge and new vaccines become available,” said Professor Richmond.

PICOBOO includes collaborators from Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth Children’s Hospital, Launceston General Hospital, RMIT University, The University of Adelaide, The University of Sydney, and The Doherty Institute.

Recruitment is now underway in Perth, with study sites in Adelaide and Launceston soon to follow, and researchers are looking for 800 healthy participants who have received their first two Covid-19 vaccinations but have not yet had their booster dose.

“At this point we urgently need to capture information from the final cohort of Australians who haven’t had their booster vaccine, and I would urge those in this group to take the opportunity to play a role in guiding our way forward out of this pandemic.

“After completing the initial recruitment stage, we will be aiming to understand further immune responses to an additional, fourth COVID-19 vaccination. If you would like to be involved in our PICOBOO research in the near future, please register your interest by contacting Vax4COVID@telethonkids.org.au,” concludes Professor Richmond.