Globally coordinated safety monitoring for COVID-19 vaccines

The University of Auckland's Auckland Univservices Limited is the coordinating site for the Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN). The GVDN is an existing network of 21 study sites representing 13 countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, India, New Zealand, Taiwan, UK, US, and South Africa) across six continents. It is the largest known international big data collaboration using large-linked databases to examine the impact of biologics on populations. Each of the GVDN sites has experience in the conduct of vaccine safety studies using electronic databases, and most sites have prior vaccine safety evaluation experience using individual medical record review to evaluate possible cases of adverse events following immunization. There is no other existing organization that has the geographic diversity, population heterogeneity, breadth of subject matter expertise, and database robustness of the GVDN. These qualities will be especially important for the COVID-19 response. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding in the amount $7,000,000.