PICOBOO Study

Can you help us learn more about the body’s immune response to COVID-19 vaccines?

The Platform Trial In COVID-19 Vaccine BOOsting (PICOBOO) Study is designed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of COVID-19 booster vaccines.

Telethon Kids Institute researchers are working with study sites around Australia to see what effect COVID-19 booster vaccination has on the immune system, how long these effects last, and what the optimal booster strategies are for people living in Australia. The study will also explore the safety of booster vaccination and how well boosting protects against hospitalisation and disease.

Your participation in the PICOBOO Study will help researchers develop the most effective, long-term strategies for COVID-19 booster vaccinations nation-wide.

What does the study involve?

To participate in the PICOBOO study, adults will need to attend five visits over a one-year period, while adolescents will have four visits over a six-month period. The visits will take place at research clinics located in Perth, Adelaide, or Launceston. These appointments will include:

• randomised vaccination with one of the three approved COVID-19 booster vaccines
• providing blood and saliva samples to test for an individual's immune response before they receive their vaccine and at three or four additional time points over the study period
• completing SMS surveys (taking 2 – 5 minutes) daily for 7 days after the vaccine visit, at Day 28, and every three months for up to 2 years to assess any COVID-19 symptoms, medical visits, or disruptions to work, study, or daily activities.

Are you eligible to participate?

Study researchers are urgently seeking the following participants:

• Adults aged 50+ who received two doses of Astra Zeneca as their primary vaccine schedule and would like to receive a 5th dose booster.
• Adults aged 50 to 69 who received Pfizer as their primary vaccine schedule and would like to receive their 5th dose booster.
• Adolescents aged 12 – 17 who have had two doses of Pfizer and would like to receive their third dose booster. 
• Adolescents aged 12 – 17 who have had two doses of Moderna and would like to receive their third dose booster.

Participating Research Clinics

To find your nearest research clinic and register your interest, please refer to the information provided below:

Perth:

Telethon Kids Institute

Perth Children’s Hospital

15 Hospital Avenue

Nedlands, WA, 6009

Register Here: https://redcap.link/PICOBOOinterestregister

Contact: Vax4COVID@telethonkids.org.au

Adelaide:

Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital

72 King William Rd

North Adelaide, SA, 5006

Register Here: https://redcap.link/PICOBOOAdelaide

Contact: VIRTU@adelaide.edu.au

Launceston:

Launceston General Hospital

274-280 Charles St

Launceston, TAS, 7250

Register Here: https://redcap.link/PICOBOOTasmania

Contact: Research@cliffordcraig.org.au

This study has been approved by the Child and Adolescent Human Research Ethics Committee. Any person with concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study should contact the Executive Director Medical Services via [08 6456 2222] who can refer your concerns to the HREC monitoring the project.