Study Design
This study was aligned with the Australian FFX study which ran
concurrent to this project and is aligned to the WHO First Few X
Protocol.26 27. The Australian FFX
study was led by the Doherty Institute, The University of
Melbourne28. Families were invited to join either, or
both studies at time of first contact, for more intensive biosampling
and follow-up. This study was approved by the Royal Children’s Hospital
Research and Ethics Committee (#63666 and 63101).
Suspected SARS-CoV-2 cases and close contacts were tested by PCR of
nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) at The RCH from March 2020 to September 2020.
These dates correspond to the first two epidemiological peaks of
SARS-CoV-2 in Melbourne, Australia. Confirmed cases and their household
members were recruited if all household members consented to
participate.