Dataset

Linking of registers for COVID-19 vaccine surveillance

The LINK-VACC project links selected variables from existing registries for COVID-19 vaccine surveillance, in order to ensure the monitoring of COVID- 19 vaccines in the phase following their marketing authorization (post-authorization surveillance). This includes the measurement of uptake and coverage of the vaccination, the estimation of vaccine effectiveness, and continuous monitoring of the vaccine’s safety. For these purposes, existing pseudonymized data on COVID-19 laboratory test results, hospitalized COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 vaccinations, underlying health problems, socio-demographic and -economic factors, and healthcare worker status are linked. | Funding: The project is funded by the Belgian Federal Authorities | Geo coverage: Nuts 3 | Target population: General population | Personal identifier: National identifier | Level of aggregation: Individual | Linkage possible: Yes | Regulations for data sharing: External investigators with a request for selected data should fill in the data request form (https://epistat.wiv-isp.be/datarequest). Depending on the type of desired data (anonymous or pseudonymized), the provision of data will have to be assessed by the Belgian Information Security Committee Social Security & Health based on legal and ethical regulations, and is outlined in a data transfer agreement with the data owner (Sciensano).

Overview

Alternative Titles / Acronym
  • LINK-VACC
Keywords
COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Vaccination corona virus Data linkage Post-market authorization Public health surveillance Vaccine Vaccine effectiveness
Languages
ENG, FRA, NLD
Health Themes
viral vaccines (Q58624061) vaccine efficacy (Q7907952)
Health Categories
Data on factors impacting on health, including socio-economic, environmental and behavioural determinants of health Population-based health data registries (public health registries) Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Data on professional status, specialisation and institution of health professionals involved in the treatment of a natural person
Coding Systems
  • International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) (v2019) Property:P494
Code Values
U07.1 Y59.0
Population Coverage
The population targeted by the LINK-VACC project comprises all individuals in Belgium who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, undergone testing for COVID-19, or have been hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The project also considers healthcare professionals and the general Belgian population for understanding vaccination coverage and effectiveness, especially among those with comorbidities and varying socio-economic backgrounds.
Personal Data Categories
Age Gender Health Record Location Nationality
Purposes

  • The primary objective of Sciensano's LINK-VACC project is to monitor COVID-19 vaccines post-authorization and evaluate the public health value of prioritizing vaccination for people with comorbidities. This involves assessing the vaccines' effectiveness and safety in the broader population context, beyond the limited scope of clinical trials, and determining future vaccination policies in public health emergencies such as epidemics or pandemics

Provenance
  • The data for the LINK-VACC project is sourced from several existing databases, including Vaccinnet+, HealthData COVID-19 database (Contact tracing and Clinic database), CoBRHA, STATBEL, and the AIM database. These databases collectively provide comprehensive demographic, clinical, and socio-economic data relevant to the project's objectives
Landing Pages
Documentation

Temporal Information

Dataset Issued
Dataset Modified
Temporal Coverage
Start
End
Temporal Resolution
P1D
Update Frequency
DAILY
Metadata Dates
Issued:
Modified:

Spatial Information

Geographic Coverage
  • BE
NUTS Codes
http://data.europa.eu/nuts/code/BE
Spatial Resolution
10 meters

Additional Information

Dataset Types
Personal Data
Applicable Legislation
Legal Basis

  • The protocol of the LINK-VACC project was approved by the medical ethics committee University Hospital Brussels – Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) on 03/02/2021 (reference number 2020/523) and obtained authorization from the Information Security Committee (ISC) Social Security and Health (reference number IVC/KSZG/21/034).

    Source
HDAB
Contact Points
Conforms To
Version
Project HDBP0250
Version Notes
  • Dataset continuously updated
Has Version
  • http://fdp2.healthdataportal.eu/dataset/8bb235c9-7bcd-4290-a188-49fe33c2170c
Referenced By
Related Resources
Sources
Structured Identifiers

Qualified Relations 5

Role Relation
Related - Identifies a related resource. https://www.ehealth.fgov.be/ehealthplatform/fr/cobrha
Related - Identifies a related resource. https://statbel.fgov.be
Related - Identifies a related resource. https://ima-aim.be/-Nos-banques-de-donnees-?lang=fr
Related - Identifies a related resource. https://www.vaccinnet.be/Vaccinnet/welkom.do
Related - Identifies a related resource. https://www.corona-tracking.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Samenwerkingsakkoord.pdf

Qualified Attributions 1

Role Agent
Processor - party who has processed the data in a manner such that the resource has been modified
Sciensano
healthdata@sciensano.be
https://healhdata.be

Provenance Activities

Activity
http://dbpedia.org/resource/Record_linkage
Type
http://dbpedia.org/resource/Record_linkage
Started At
Agent
Dr. Joris van Loenhout
Joris.VanLoenhout@sciensano.be
https://www.sciensano.be/fr/people/joris-van-loenhout
On behalf of: Sciensano
Documentation
https://www.sciensano.be/sites/default/files/information_letter_linkvacc_20221010_en.pdf

Quality & Retention

Quality Annotations
  • Bodies:
    Targets:
    Motivations:
Retention Period
As stated in the CSI deliberation
From: 2020-03-01T00:00:00+01:00 To: 2034-12-31T00:00:00+01:00

Distributions & Resources

Belgian Health Data Agency

https://www.hda.belgium.be/

Restricted CSV en 78.13 KB
Publication Info
License cc-zero1.0
Technical Details
File Size 78.13 KB
Standards & Languages
Languages en
Conforms To
Distribution Profile
Direct Links
Access URL https://www.hda.belgium.be/
LINK-VACC schema

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sciensanogit/SciensanoDataPortal_distributions/refs/heads/main/datasets/LINK-VACC/datadic.ttl

Restricted TURTLE en
Description

Schema of the database

Publication Info
License cc-zero1.0
Technical Details
MIME Type http://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/text/turtle
Standards & Languages
Languages en
Conforms To
Sample Profile
Direct Links
Download URL Download
ID_TU_STATBEL_POP

internalURI:tbc

Restricted en
Publication Info
License cc-zero1.0
Standards & Languages
Languages en
Conforms To
Sample Profile
Direct Links
Download URL Download
Technical report number of unique study subjects available by environment for project HDBP0250

https://fair.healthdata.be/sites/default/files/distribution/d43a158e-7d13-4660-bbc3-9d3f8d5501e5/Technical_report_number_of_unique_study_subjects_available_by_environment_for_project_HDBP0250.csv

Restricted CSV en
Publication Info
License cc-zero1.0
Technical Details
MIME Type http://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/text/csv
Standards & Languages
Languages en
Conforms To
Analytics Profile
Direct Links
Download URL Download
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Surveillance
Vaccination
corona virus
Data linkage
Post-market authorization
Public health surveillance