AZ HEROES study awarded $22M to continue evaluation of COVID-19 immunity, vaccine effectiveness
A University of Arizona Health Sciences study of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and immunity among frontline workers, families and children has received $22 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue the research for another year.
Over the next year, the Arizona Healthcare, Emergency Response, and Other Essential Workers Surveillance, or AZ HEROES, study will continue to evaluate vaccine effectiveness, including different vaccine types and adherence to recommended vaccine doses and timing. The study will assess the duration of vaccine protection and the degree to which vaccines prevent more severe illness in cases when vaccinated individuals become infected, especially with new variants.
"The AZ HEROES team, under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Burgess, has done exceptional work," said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins. "The AZ HEROES study continues to provide important data about COVID-19 and vaccines, and the information gathered will benefit people around the world. This third year of funding shows the CDC's confidence in the work being done at the University of Arizona Health Sciences."
AZ HEROES began in 2020 and originally focused on incidence of COVID-19 infection, reinfection and immunity among health care personnel, first responders and other essential workers. Last year AZ HEROES expanded to include children age 4 months to 17 years and underserved populations.