The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to impact public health and the health of individuals, families, and communities. Those with a rare disease may be disproportionately affected because they may have a high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 from their caregivers, housing situations, and need to attend in- person medical appointments. They may also be particularly vulnerable to complications from infection due to their underlying disease condition, immunosuppressive therapies, genetic susceptibility, and/or other factors. The scope of infection among those with rare diseases is unknown. The present proposal will investigate the sero-prevalence of immunity against SARS-CoV-2 among asymptomatic individuals with rare diseases. Specifically, this study will determine the prevalence of detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (Aim 1) and investigate the immune attributes associated with health outcomes across the life course (Aim 2) among asymptomatic individuals across the United States with one of >280 rare diseases. The anticipated results will provide crucial insights into the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of rare disease and will contribute to the identification of potential targets for a vaccine.
The newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 viral pandemic has had a major impact on morbidity and mortality worldwide while causing a devastating global economic and societal impact. However, its impact on individuals with rare diseases is unknown. Knowledge about the extent of exposures and the potential humoral immunity in this population will offer insights into current and future response efforts. This study of asymptomatic individuals with a rare disease during and up to 1 year after the end of the pandemic will provide critical insights into the development of herd immunity and will identify potential targets to accelerate the discovery of a vaccine.
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