Viral infections in clinically vulnerable and immunocompromised people
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Estimating risk of severe outcomes from respiratory Viral Infections in clinically Vulnerable and Immunocompromised people (VIVID): a programme of observational studies
IRAS ID
352654
Contact name
Tony Stone
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sheffield
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
Respiratory viruses are viruses that can cause infections in the airways or lungs. Two well-known examples are flu and COVID-19. Some people have a weak immune system. This may be because they are very young or elderly, or due to certain illnesses or medications. The way the immune system is weakened also varies. We know that people with a weak immune system are more likely to become seriously unwell when they catch a respiratory virus. However, most previous research has focused only on COVID-19.
When people become unwell due to a respiratory virus, they may visit their general practitioner (GP). If they become more seriously ill, they may be admitted to hospital. Some may require intensive care to help with their breathing. Sadly, some people die as a result of these infections. All of these are examples of healthcare activity.
This study will look at how many GP visits, hospital stays, ICU admissions, and deaths are directly linked to a range of respiratory viruses, including but not limited to COVID-19. It will include people of all ages living in England between April 2021 and March 2026. The study will compare the different risks faced by groups of people, depending on the cause of their weakened immune system, to the general population.
We will use this information to estimate the total healthcare burden of respiratory viruses and the relative risk for different groups. These findings will help to guide vaccine policy, including decisions about who should be prioritised for new vaccines against respiratory viruses.
The study will use coded health information routinely collected by GP practices, hospitals, and from death records. These data will be combined at the individual patient level to allow more detailed analysis.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0589
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion