Lay summary
This initial stage of work will demonstrate whether three leading vaccine candidates currently under development (NVD GAS, J8-DT/alum and StreptAnova) are effective against the relevant strains of Group A Streptococcus (GAS disease) which cause rheumatic fever affecting Maori, Pacific and Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. It will also establish proof of concept to determine whether further funding for clinical development and manufacture of candidate vaccines is justified.
The three objectives of the research are:
1. a comparative health economic analysis of the vaccine approach and other economic or public health initiatives;
2. identification of the epidemiologically relevant Group A Streptococcus strains that cause rheumatic fever; and
3. evaluation of the coverage and efficacy offered by candidate vaccines against these strains.