COVID-19 surveillance and immunity studies up to March 2023
Updated 21 December 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-surveillance/covid-19-surveillance
The Surveillance and Immunity studies are part of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that is responsible for commissioning and funding studies to understand coronavirus (COVID-19).
The widespread rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine programme, together with improved treatments for the most vulnerable, has enabled the transition to living with COVID-19. This means the approach to monitoring COVID-19 is being actively reviewed by UKHSA to ensure it is proportionate, cost effective and considered alongside how we monitor a range of other infectious diseases that present a risks to the public’s health.
UKHSA will confirm details of any new surveillance surveys that continue beyond 31 March 2023 in due course.
Surveillance studies
COVID-19 Infection Survey
April 2020 to March 2023
The COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) started in April 2020 and was delivered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), University of Oxford, IQVIA and other partners.
This study initially used repeat household visits and from July 2022 began a fully digital approach to establish the proportion of the general population who had SARS-CoV-2. Participants were tested whether they report having symptoms of COVID-19 or not. Blood samples were also taken from a proportion of participants to test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
This study was originally set up to gather data from England, but expanded to include Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. The study tested approximately 150,000 participants every fortnight.
Data collection for the COVID-19 Infection Survey was paused from mid-March 2023 and the final insights from this data were reported in a bulletin on 24 March 2023. The approach to COVID-19 surveillance is being actively reviewed by UKHSA and we will confirm details of any new surveillance surveys that continue beyond 31 March 2023 in due course.
Press releases:
Coronavirus Infection Survey (CIS) articles
ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey FAQs
COVID-19 surveillance study in care homes (Vivaldi)
This major care home study was started in May 2020. The study was run by University College London and other academic partners.
Vivaldi 1
May 2020 to June 2020
This study was launched in May 2020 and focuses on understanding what proportion of care home healthcare workers and residents in England tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, as well as the virus’ transmission routes and mitigating factors within care homes. Residents and carers received swab testing through the national care home testing programme, whilst care home managers took part in a national telephone survey.
Impact of coronavirus in care homes in England (Vivaldi): 26 May to 19 June 2020
Vivaldi 1: coronavirus care homes study report
Vivaldi 2
June 2020 to March 2023
This study was launched in June 2020 and built on the findings of Vivaldi 1. The cohort study expanded its initial set of 100 care homes in the Four Seasons Health Care chain to cover approximately 340 homes in England and 15,000 participants.
Vivaldi 2 used trained phlebotomists to draw blood from care-home residents and staff, which was then used to test for both antibody and cellular immune responses to COVID-19. This data is cross-referenced with DHSC-delivered swab testing in care homes to provide a detailed picture of prevalence, seroprevalence, transmission and immunity over time.
The study also provided data on the efficacy of the vaccine as the mass-vaccination programme was rolled out in care homes nationwide.
In addition, samples of venous blood from care-home residents participating in Vivaldi 2 underwent immunological analyses to explore cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2. This research, conducted by the University of Birmingham, was an integral part of the Vivaldi project and is sometimes known as ‘Vivaldi 3’.
Press releases:
ONS COVID-19 Schools Infection Survey
October 2020 to March 2022
Commissioned by DHSC, the ONS collected data and conducted analysis, alongside UKHSA (formerly Public Health England (PHE)) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), to understand and assess SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as its transmission within schools.
Phase 1 of the study (SIS1), which concluded in July 2021, involved repeated antibody and PCR testing of students and staff, drawn from up to 150 schools (both primary and secondary) in England. Phase 2 (SIS2, from autumn 2021) focuses on antibody testing, whilst acquiring insights into pupils’ health and wellbeing as well as preventative measures implemented in schools.
SIS 1
Research findings: round 3 (scheduled to take place in late January 2021) was cancelled due to schools in England being closed to the majority of pupils during lockdown.
SIS 2
Research findings: coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination uptake in school pupils, England
Research findings: attitudes to vaccines and preventative measures
Research findings: pupil antibody data, November to December 2021
Research findings: mental health and long COVID
Research findings: coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in school pupils, England: up to 22 December 2021
Research findings: pupil antibody data, January to February 2022
Immunity studies
SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection EvaluatioN (SIREN)
June 2020 to March 2023
This is a major study testing blood samples and swabs obtained from healthcare workers who work in a clinical setting to see if infection with SARS-CoV-2 protects them from future episodes of infection. The study also assesses vaccine effectiveness and the effect of antibody protection against variants.
It was set up in April 2020 to assess the risk of re-infection in healthcare workers who have tested positive for antibodies.
Arrangements for continued sampling in the SIREN cohort for 2023 to 2024 are still in development. UKHSA continues to engage with the cohort, sites and four nations public health agencies as we review our approach to COVID-19 surveillance. We will confirm details of the study beyond 31 March 2023 in due course.
Press releases:
Protective Immunity from T-Cells in Healthcare workers (PITCH) – UKHSA
March 2020 to June 2022
This study was a partnership between multiple universities to understand the T-cell responses in healthcare workers. It focused on the immunity that might come from having been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and what this means. Following the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines, the study also analysed how vaccination alters people’s T cell response to fight the virus.