COVID-19 Vaccination

Overview of VACCELERATE

VACCELERATE is a pan-European clinical research network established to coordinate and conduct COVID-19 vaccine trials, especially phase 2 & 3. Vaccelerate+2EVI+2. It acts as a single entry point for stakeholders (academia, pharma, regulators, public health) in Europe. Vaccelerate+2PMC+2

Key elements include:

• Volunteer Registry for trial participants (> 107,000 volunteers across ~25 countries) Vaccelerate
• Site Network / capacity mapping of clinical trial and laboratory sites across Europe EVI+2PubMed+2
• Training, harmonization & quality management of trial protocols and lab assays PubMed+3Vaccelerate+3PMC+3
• Data standards, sharing & interoperability Vaccelerate+2ecrin.org+2
• Addressing underrepresented populations (children, pregnant women, immunocompromised, etc.) Vaccelerate+2PMC+2

Since its launch, the Site Network has grown significantly: as of April 2023, ~481 sites in 39 European countries are registered.
 

VACCELERATE also developed a harmonized set of promotional and educational materials (videos, brochures, interactive tools) to improve recruitment, inclusivity, and public understanding of vaccine trials. 

Key Findings & Challenges from Research (Relevant to CLEO’s Work)

A study titled “The Challenges of Vaccine Trial Participation among Underserved and Hard-to-Reach Communities” (Poulimeneas et al.) surveyed 17 National Coordinators across the VACCELERATE network. PMC+1
Underserved or hard-to-reach groups most frequently cited: 

• ethnic minorities (76.5 %),
• persons experiencing homelessness (70.6 %),
• migrants/illegal workers/refugees (64.7 %) 

Main barriers: low health literacy, reluctance due to engagement burden, and low trust in vaccines/trials.
National Coordinators prioritized outreach to migrants, immigrants, and ethnic groups.

In “Perspectives of European Patient Advocacy Groups on the VACCELERATE Volunteer Registry”(Zaoutis et al.), a survey of 520 members of patient advocacy groups revealed:
Key decision factors for participating in trials: perceived risk, benefits, and quality & clarity of information.

Northern European respondents were more likely to express willingness to enroll than Southern European respondents. Concerns included safety of novel vaccines and trust in those developing trials.

The “Design and Development of the Pan-European VACCELERATE” paper describes the creation of harmonized educational tools (videos, brochures, puzzles, etc.), designed for inclusiveness (especially for underserved groups). 

CLEO’s Role & Added Contributions (Augmented with New Data)

1.  National Coordination for Greece

   CLEO continues to act as Greece’s official liaison in the VACCELERATE network, facilitating Greek trial sites' integration into the European infrastructure. Through this role, CLEO helps adapt promotional, training, and protocol tools to the Greek context and regulatory environment.

2.  Pediatric Trials & Special Populations

   CLEO’s leadership in mapping pediatric site capacities is aligned with VACCELERATE’s goals of including underrepresented populations (children, adolescents). The educational and promotional tools developed across VACCELERATE help inform potential participants about pediatric trial design, consent, and safety. PubMed

3. Volunteer Engagement & Behavioral Research

   CLEO can leverage findings from the surveys described above (barriers, motivators) to refine local outreach strategies in Greece.
   The feedback from patient advocacy groups provides actionable insight for improving communication and building trust.

4.  Implementation of Educational & Promotional Tools
   CLEO may support translation, adaptation, distribution, and deployment of VACCELERATE’s harmonized materials (videos, brochures, interactive content) in Greece.

5. Data & Site Network Participation

   As part of the European Site Network, Greek sites under CLEO’s purview contribute to capacity mapping efforts. CLEO can help ensure Greek trial sites adhere to VACCELERATE’s data standards, interoperability, and FAIR data principles.

Impact & Strategic Value
CLEO’s involvement strengthens Greece’s integration into Europe’s vaccine trial ecosystem, promoting equity, quality, and speed in vaccine research. By combining behavioral insights, educational tools, and coordination mechanisms, CLEO contributes to overcoming barriers in trial enrollment, especially in hard-to-reach populations. The infrastructure and experience built through VACCELERATE (even after EU funding ends) will support future pandemic preparedness and vaccine research beyond COVID-19. Vaccelerate+1