Den här översättningen är inte klar ännu. Den här sidan är just nu på engelska.

Gå till den engelska sidan

Cure My Disease

Don't miss your cure!

 Log in / Sign up

Scientists investigate Africa's COVID-19 mystery: why were cases so mild?

NCT ID NCT05973084

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Boston University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study in Malawi aims to understand why COVID-19 was much less severe there than in Europe and the Americas. Researchers will follow 1500 people, including those infected and their household contacts, to see how factors like prior infections, nutrition, and immune responses affect transmission and vaccine effectiveness. The goal is to uncover what protected the population, not to test a new treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If successful, this could reveal why COVID-19 was milder in sub-Saharan Africa, potentially guiding future pandemic responses and vaccine strategies.
What could go wrong
This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It may not find clear answers, and results may not apply to other regions or future variants.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

About 1,500 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Jan 2023

Expected to finish

Mar 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

This study will take place in Blantyre, in one or all of the following health centers and their catchment areas: Bangwe, Chileka, Chilomoni, and Mpemba. These health centers were chosen because transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and malaria were recorded in their catchment area in the past two years. If needed, to reach the recruitment target, different health services in Blantyre may be considered for this research.

Ages

5 to 75 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria Index Cases 1. Presents with symptoms of COVID-19 and has infection confirmed through RT-PCR or a rapid antigen test; 2. Aged 5 years to 75 years and plans to live in Blantyre, in the catchment area of the target research health centers for the following 6 months; 3. Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and share a household with 1 or more individuals of eligible age; 4. Has not received a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the previous 3 months 5. Willingness to comply with study procedures and visits, and provides informed consent. Household Contacts of the Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Case 1. Aged 5 years to 75 years and plans to live in Blantyre, in the catchment area of the target research health centers in the following 6 months; 2. Willingness to comply with study procedures and follow-up visits and provides informed consent. 3. Has not received a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the previous 3 months Vaccinees 1\) Aged 18 years to 75 years; 2) Willingness to receive the primary regimen of the AZ and/or JJ vaccines 2) Not in the other 2 cohorts; 4) Willingness to comply with study procedures and follow-up visits and provides informed consent. 5\) Has not received a prior dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Exclusion Criteria Index Cases 1. Conditions that precludes from adherence to the visit schedule; 2. 50% or more of household members decline to participate. 3. Pregnancy at the enrollment visit 4. Long term use of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis Household Contacts of the Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Case 1. Conditions that preclude adherence to the visit schedule. 2. Participants with 2 consecutive negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCRs will be excluded from visits after M1. 3. Pregnancy at the enrollment visit 4. Long term use of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis Vaccinees 1. Conditions that preclude adherence to the visit schedule. 2. Pregnancy at the enrollment visit 3. Long term use of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for SARS CoV 2 vaccination are added.

Vår säkerhetsrekommendation!

Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

COVID-19

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SARS CoV 2 vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • BU School of Public Health, Global Health Department

    ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States

  • Health center

    RECRUITING

    Blantyre, Malawi

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.