July 14, 2022
Thanks for your interest in the FFX study.
We are looking for households where:
- someone has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 24 hours
- there are at least two members of the household
- all household members are willing to participate.
What is the FFX study?
This study will help understand how emerging COVID-19 variants are transmitted within households.
The study will also provide information about:
- changes in disease symptoms over time
- impacts of different variants
- Impacts of different vaccines
- long-term effects on immunity against COVID-19
Studying COVID-19 in households gives better information about COVID-19 disease than studying individuals alone.
How does the FFX study work and what do I have to do?
This study is based on a protocol from the World Health Organization and this important work is happening in similar studies around the world.
If you (and your household members) agree to participate, you will:
- provide initial information about you, your household and your experience with COVID-19
- complete a daily symptom diary for up to 28 days which will take 2–5 minutes each day
- have at least one COVID-19 PCR swab test (to enable genomic study of the virus)
- provide blood samples – two in the first 28 days, and then further samples up to a year after your infection (to enable study of your immune response)
- be involved in 30–60 minutes of follow-up interviews in the initial period of the study
Participants in the study follow Australian Department of Health recommendations for testing and isolation during the study. You may be asked to undertake COVID-19 testing at multiple times.
Information from participating households will be compiled and presented to the Victorian Department of Health to support the ongoing COVID-19 response. Periodic reports will also be sent to participants.
I am interested. Who do I contact to find out more?
If everyone in your household is an adult (OVER the age of 18), please contact WEHI through the linked screening survey.
Who is funding this project?
The FFX study is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and the National Health and Medical Research Council, through the APPRISE Centre of Research Excellence.
The University of Melbourne Ethics Reference number is: 2022-13875-24834-4