A ‘globally significant’ bank of biosamples from a study into the immune effects of Covid vaccines is set to be destroyed, two years after the award-winning research project was defunded by the Queensland Government.

Intended “to better understand the short, medium and long-term impacts of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines in Queensland,” the QoVAX Safety and Efficacy Statewide Study boasted 10,000 adult participants across 86% of postcodes, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, generating over 100,000 biospecimens and 11 million data points for analysis across multiple phases.

With its digitally-integrated biobank and linked data repository, QoVAX promised to enable ongoing research addressing epidemiology, genomics, virology, and immunology, as well as unforeseen complications of Covid vaccines, and long Covid outcomes.

Some of the state’s most important research bodies partnered on the project, including QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the University of Queensland (UQ), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), James Cook University, and Griffith University.

Data collection began in August 2021, with an initial pilot study reportedly finding that while people in all age ranges had developed antibodies after two doses of Covid vaccination, the response was lower for people aged over 50.

“The study will provide us with a clearer picture about what factors – such as our genetic makeup, lifestyle and general health and wellbeing – influence a person’s vaccine response in this real-world situation,” said QoVAX Director Professor Janet Davies at the outset.

However, less than two years later, in June 2023, the study was defunded with no official explanation, jeopardising several unpublished research papers that were near completion. Professor Davies was removed as project lead, and QoVAX was handed to Queensland’s Metro North Health. Sample collection ceased, data was shelved, and government web pages for the once-hyped initiative were deleted. …

Queensland Health was asked to provide an estimate of the total monies invested in the QoVAX project to date, but did not provide an answer.

It has previously been reported that the QoVAX project cost only $20 million, a drop in the bucket compared to Queensland Health’s operating budget of $26.7 billion for 2024-2025.

This is also spare change for the Federal Government, considering its spending on other Covid vaccine-related projects, including $18 billion spent on Covid vaccines and treatments, and $532 million spent on the COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative for the Pacific and South East Asia.

I asked the Department of Health whether the Federal Government has considered, or is considering, taking over the QoVAX biosamples and dataset so that they can be preserved, but did not receive a response before the publication deadline.

Short of a miracle, it looks as though the Queensland Government is committed to the destruction of this internationally significant biobank and dataset.

“The indignation of participants and dismay of the team can be imagined,” said Professor Hoy of the prospect.

Not to mention those suffering from long Covid and vaccine injuries, who have been calling for better research for years.

“It is another slap in the face to these people as they desperately need recognition of their injuries and more importantly, remedies that can restore their health,” said Senator Rennick.

If the QoVAX study shows how well the vaccines worked in a Covid-naive population, and how well they continue to work with multiple shots and infections, it’s a true mystery as to why the Queensland Government wouldn’t want to keep the study going and publish these amazing results for the world to see.