WESTERN HEALTH NOTES THAT ANY PARTICIPANT IN A TRIAL SUCH AS THIS MUST STILL ADHERE TO EVERY PPE AND OTHER SAFETY MEASURE PUT IN PLACE BY WESTERN HEALTH
THE INFORMATION BELOW HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE RESEARCHERS AT THE WALTER AND ELIZA HALL INSTITUTE:
“COVID-19 prevention trial in health care workers – Enrolling now
Dear health care workers from Western Health
I’m writing to provide you with information about a COVID-19 prevention trial that’s currently open to health care workers across Australia.
COVID SHIELD is a gold standard clinical trial to assess whether the drug hydroxychloroquine is useful in preventing COVID-19 in health care professionals who are at an increased risk of exposure to the virus in their daily roles.
This trial is enrolling health care workers in hospitals, as well as health services such as GPs, dental clinics, and aged-care facilities.
This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, reviewed by international experts and multiple NHMRC-accredited bodies, and funded by the Australian Government. It is being led by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.
Participating in COVID SHIELD
Safety in the trial is paramount. It is being run by clinicians with decades of experience administering hydroxychloroquine safely and all participants will be closely monitored.
The trial involves taking hydroxychloroquine, or placebo, for four months. The collection of data will be through an electronic data capture platform accessible via smart phones or other devices. There will be four brief (10-20 minute) face to face check-ins.
Participants in Victoria can choose their most convenient trial location among a list of options that include:
- Royal Melbourne Hospital
- St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
- Austin Hospital
- Monash Health
- and several others
How to enrol
To discuss trial participation with a nurse or register your interest:
- Visit www.covidshieldtrial.com.au and follow the prompts. Alternatively, scan the QR code in the attached flyer to be taken directly to the trial website. Once you have registered, you will be contacted regarding eligibility, any questions and next steps.
More information
- View a message from the study PIs at https://youtu.be/_ATW3SMDHac
- Visit the COVID SHIELD FAQs page at https://www.wehi.edu.au/covid-shield-faqs
If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr Zina Valaydon