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The eCOV study

Whether vaccinated or not, everyone can contribute to COVID-19 research by participating in a digital health study.

Enrollment for the eCOV study is now closed.

The eCOV study is organised by Data4Life, a nonprofit organization and initiative of the Hasso Plattner Foundation.

Logo: Data4Life Logo: Hasso Plattner Foundation

Health studies at Data4Life

Our studies are easy, secure, and completely digital. Here’s how you can help:

  1. Create a Data4Life account
  2. Join a digital study
  3. Answer a few quick health questions
View studies

Thank you for making a difference

At Data4Life, we believe digital studies can transform the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases like COVID-19.

Look how many people joined the eCOV study!

of 10000 participants

FAQs

What is the eCOV study?

The "COVID-19 study on vaccinated and unvaccinated persons over 16," or eCOV study for short, aims to better understand the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in everyday life.

The study is completely digital and involves answering simple health questions about COVID-19 symptoms, vaccines, side effects, and testing.

By participating, you can help researchers gain insights on COVID-19 testing and vaccines. Participation is voluntary, and every contribution counts.

What is the goal of the eCOV study?

Our research team is working to evaluate how effective COVID-19 vaccines are in real life and to what extent tests help detect infections at an early stage. Help us get some answers to the following questions:

  • How effective are COVID-19 vaccines in everyday life?
  • How does vaccine effectiveness decline over time?
  • Do vaccinated people have different COVID-19 symptoms?
  • What are typical side effects of coronavirus vaccines?
  • When and how often are booster vaccinations necessary?

Everyone can play a part in improving testing and vaccine strategies by joining the eCOV study.

Who can participate in the study?

The eCOV study is open to anyone over the age of 16.

You’re welcome to participate regardless of whether or not you already had COVID-19, have been vaccinated, or have pre-existing conditions. For meaningful results, we need a good representation of the entire population.

More participants means better findings – every contribution counts.

Who organized the study?

The eCOV study is conducted by Data4Life and supported by the Hasso Plattner Foundation. The lead physician of the study is PD Dr. Cornelius Remschmidt, Chief Medical Officer at Data4Life.

How is the study funded?

The eCOV study is funded entirely by Data4Life, a nonprofit organization and initiative of the Hasso Plattner Foundation. Our goal is to make it easier for people to contribute to COVID-19 research.

How can I participate in the study?

Study participation is purely digital. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions. You can do so using your smartphone, tablet, or computer. There are no physical requirements or appointments.

Simply create a Data4Life account here to get started.

What questions will be asked?

The eCOV questions relate to both your general health and coronavirus. This includes questions about past COVID-19 infections, vaccination, side effects, and COVID-19 testing.

If you have been tested for COVID-19, please add your test results and report your symptoms in your Data4Life account.

How much time does it take?

The initial eCOV questionnaire contains a total of 21 questions. It takes no more than 5 minutes to answer. You will then be asked a few follow-up questions each week, which should only take a couple minutes.

Ideally, all participants would participate for at least 2 months. You are welcome to participate for longer and continue supporting vaccine research.

Will I be compensated for participating in the study?

Digital studies are a simple way to do something good and contribute to research. Unlike clinical trials involving tests or physical appointments, the eCOV study requires minimal time and effort. Therefore we do not offer compensation for study participation. With just a few clicks, you can help researchers find out more about COVID-19 vaccines.

What happens to my data? How secure is it?

All information in your Data4Life account is private and encrypted.

Before researchers see your answers to the eCOV questions, we remove all personal identifiers (e.g. name, email address, and telephone number). This step, called pseudonymization, makes data useful for research without disclosing your identity.

You can find more information about how we maximize the security of your data here.

As soon as enough data is available, we will analyze it and publish the results in a peer reviewed journal.

Has the study been reviewed by an ethics committee?

Yes. The study was extensively reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of the Berlin Chamber of Physicians (Ärztekammer Berlin, Eth-11/22).

What happens if I stop participating early?

Participating for at least 8 weeks allows researchers to get a full picture and gain important insights on coronavirus infections, tests, and vaccines. If you would like to drop out earlier, you're free to do so at any time. We will do our best to take your previous answers into account.

I am not yet 16 years old. Can I still participate?

Anyone over the age of 16 can participate in the study. This is a requirement of the ethics committee of the Berlin Chamber of Physicians (Ärztekammer Berlin). We are unable to provide access to younger participants and ask for your understanding.

If you have further questions or technical problems, please visit our help center.

Data Privacy

Your privacy matters to us, and we take a number of steps designed to safeguard your sensitive health data. All information in your Data4Life account is end-to-end encrypted and protected by two-factor authentication.

Before researchers see any answers to study questions, we remove all personal identifiers such as your name, email address, and telephone number in a process called pseudonymization.

For more information, visit our help center.

Thank you for making a difference.

Enrollment for the eCOV study is now closed.

Study details

Short name
eCOV study

Official name
COVID-19 study for vaccinated and unvaccinated persons over 16

Investigator
PD Dr. med. Cornelius Remschmidt, Chief Medical Officer at Data4Life

Study physician/ operational management
Nils Hohmuth

Scientific advisor
PD Dr. Rasmus Leistner

Full study information
View information for participants

Participants:
16+ years old

Requirements
Browser, internet access

Ethics approval
Ethics committee of the Berlin Chamber of Physicians (Eth-11/22)

Data4Life

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