- Immunisation education and training
- Seroprevalence study in Timor-Leste
- Serological surveillance for vaccine preventable diseases in the Western Pacific Region
- Point-of-care testing to determine dengue serostatus: a field evaluation study in Timor-Leste
- Vaccine Champions program
- Guidelines for disease outbreak preparedness and response
- Serosurveillance: Reaching zero-dose children and under-immunised communities in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea project
- Development of a community-based intervention to improve immunisation coverage among children with disability in Fiji
- Determining Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage in children under five in Timor-Leste
- Vaccination behavioural insights research to inform tailored resource development in three Pacific Island Countries
- Reaching Zero-Dose children in the Solomon Islands: Technical assistance for Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services Extended Program on Immunisation
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and select vaccine preventable diseases in Timor-Leste
Background
Seroprevalence studies provide estimates of antibody levels against infectious diseases and are considered the gold standard for measuring population immunity due to past infection or through vaccination. Currently, our understanding of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Timor-Leste has been based on the identification of cases that presented for testing or were symptomatic.
Aim
This project aims to obtain seroprevalence estimates of SARS-CoV-2 and select vaccine preventable diseases, including measles, rubella, hepatitis B and dengue, to understand the extent of exposure to these viruses in the broader Timor-Leste community. The study findings will guide public health policy to control and mitigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 as well as other vaccine preventable diseases.
Method
In partnership with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health, the study team will conduct a series of population representative cross-sectional surveys through randomly selected households from every municipality. More than 5,000 people will be invited to participate. The work involves testing blood (serum or plasma) samples for antibodies.
Location
Various locations in Timor-Leste
Impact
- Findings from this project will provide essential information on the extent and nature of infection and possible immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and other vaccine preventable diseases in Timor-Leste. This information will help strengthen Timor-Leste’s ability to efficiently prevent future outbreaks of these diseases by enabling targeted vaccination drives in non-immune populations.
- Seroprevalence studies are an important component of disease surveillance with the findings used to inform public health policy, vaccination strategies and other models to predict future disease spread and understand needs of the health service to control and subsequently, eliminate these diseases in Timor-Leste.
- As Timor-Leste has experienced significant community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, determining what proportion of the population has evidence of antibodies against COVID-19, from either infection or vaccination, will help with planning for the ongoing public health response and to encourage high vaccine uptake.
Project team
Principal investigator: Dr Nelson Martins (Menzies School of Health Research)
Study team: Dr Josh Francis and the Menzies School of Health Research team, Dr Sarah Sheridan (NCIRS)
Resources
Menzies School of Health Research: ARIA-RISE project - publications and news items
Enquiries
For any enquiries, please email the ARIA secretariat