People with blood cancers have weakened immune systems due to their disease and the treatments they receive. They also have a significantly higher risk of death from COVID-19 compared to people without blood cancers. However, people with blood cancers were not included in the large COVID-19 vaccine trials. Therefore, we don’t know whether they mount a protective antibody response to the vaccine, and whether this response lasts over time. We hope this Canada-wide study will answer critical questions on vaccine response and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in people with blood cancers.

After identifying how you are eligible for the study, we will ask for your contact information and for your consent to participate. Following, our study staff will be in touch with you. You can also enroll on-site, when you are next at the clinic OR contact our site coordinator for assistance with enrollment.

There are 3 study tasks that you will complete at several intervals over the study period. These include online questionnaires, bloodwork, and Dried Blood Spot samples. Click here to learn more.

You can choose to end your participation in this research (called withdrawal) at any time without having to provide a reason. If you choose to withdraw from the study, you are encouraged to contact the study staff.

You will receive e-reminders before and during a 7-day window for all study tasks. These tasks include questionnaires, bloodwork visits, and submitting Dried Blood Spot samples. You will need to click on the link in this e-reminder to mark off a task, which alerts our study staff that you have completed this task. Our study staff may also check off this link for you, if they call to assist you with same.

We want to ensure that you are informed of what our study and your participation involves. This form will also advise of your rights as a participant. After you submit this form, our study staff will reach out to verify your eligibility and informed consent, provide an overview of the study, and answer any of your questions.

After your blood is drawn, you will be given a bag with Dried Blood Spot cards and prepaid postage. You can mail your samples to:

Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association
501 Smyth Road Critical Care Wing, 4th floor
Box 115, 501 Smyth Rd
Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6

Your blood will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies in our Serological and Diagnostic Core Facility research lab.

After joining the study and having your blood drawn, you will be given 5 Dried Blood Spot cards, 5 dry pouches (to enclose the Dried Blood Spot cards), and 5 return envelopes with prepaid postage. You will also be given study instructions to help you self-collect.

A Dried Blood Spot test is a type of sampling where blood obtained from a finger-prick lancet is blotted on filter paper.

You will collect Dried Blood Spots using the self-sampling technique. You can access instructions and a video to learn how to collect this sample. You can also contact our study staff with any questions. You will be asked to return the samples by mail using a postage-paid return envelope.

There are no medical risks to you from participating in this study, but taking part in this study may make you feel uncomfortable.

You may feel anxiety, panic, distress, and other strong emotions due to the questions in the study questionnaires. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to.

When you give blood you may feel faint, or experience mild pain, bruising, irritation or redness at the site. In rare cases, you may get an infection.

All of your identifying information will be stored in a secure database behind The Ottawa Hospital firewalls. After completing your consent form and speaking with our study coordinator, you will be emailed a unique identifier. All of your results will be tied to this unique identifier. You will need to bring this with you to the lab. You are also able to show it on your phone.

Once you enroll in the study, please use your secure identifier when emailing/calling the study coordinator with questions.

You may not receive direct benefit from participating in this study. We hope the information learned from this study will help other people with blood cancers in the future. Knowledge from this study may help doctors better understand the safety and response in patients with blood cancers who receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

If at any time you feel ill or feel you are in need of medical care, immediately contact your health care provider or go to the Emergency Room of your nearest hospital. In case of emergencies call 911.

The research lab will send your COVID-19 antibody results (positive or negative) to the site coordinator. The site coordinator will upload these results to the secure database, after which you will receive an email alerting you that new results are available. After, you can access results online by following the instructions in the email, or by contacting your site coordinator. *Please know that it may take up to six months for our research lab to send results to the site coordinator.

How often will you get in touch with me in the future?

Our study staff will reach out to you in these scenarios:

After you submit your online consent form, if you enroll through the website.

If you have not completed a study task within the 7-day window.

If you communicate that you have a question or concern.

To offer you assistance with questionnaire reminders and completion.

You can contact our study staff anytime here.

If you are having trouble understanding or accessing your results, please contact your local coordinator. If you do not know your local coordinator, please contact the lead coordinator Allison at awilkin@ohri.ca

If you have questions about what to do after receiving a positive or negative antibody result, please ask your oncologist.

The results of this test are for scientific purposes only. We are still learning if a positive antibody test gives you adequate protection from infection and how long these antibodies may last. Receiving a positive antibody test should not change your approach to preventing infection (for example, masking etc.). We advise you to continue to follow recommendations made by Public Health and by your health care team.