COVID-19 is a global health crisis, but the risks to specific occupational groups such as paramedics have not been fully studied. Paramedics likely represent a very high-risk occupational group due to the nature of their work. They provide care in close proximity, treat people who are potentially infected with COVID19, transport patients in confined spaces and provide emergency medical treatments that may increase the risk of transmission, such as those that generate aerosols and CPR for cardiac arrest.

We aim to learn more about the paramedic experience working during the COVID-19 pandemic and better understand the workplace factors which affect the risk of developing COVID-19. Study blood samples will help us determine levels of immunity to COVID-19 among the paramedic community, both short and long-term.

We are interested in the number of paramedics that developed antibodies from natural infection, the number that successfully develop antibodies after vaccination, and the duration of time that these antibodies remain detectable in the individual.

This study recruited participants from five Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Participants completed online surveys and provided blood samples approximately every 6 months. The results of this study are helping us to identify factors that increase or decrease the risk of infection among paramedics, and how this risk compares to other groups such in the general population. This evidence is being used to inform workplace health and safety guidelines to protect paramedics from developing COVID-19 infections. It is also helping us learn how effective the vaccine is at inducing antibodies, and how long these antibodies last.

This project is funded by the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, as part of a national effort to by the Government of Canada to track spread of the virus in priority populations in Canada.

Questions?

For answers to questions like:

• What is SARS-CoV-2 serology test?
• What does a positive antibody test mean?
• If I have antibodies to SARS-CoV2 do I still need to be vaccinated?

Please visit our FAQ page