Van Goethem, Nina
Robert, Annie
Bossuyt, Nathalie
Van Poelvoorde, Laura A. E.
Quoilin, Sophie
De Keersmaecker, Sigrid C. J.
Devleesschauwer, Brecht
Thomas, Isabelle
Vanneste, Kevin
Roosens, Nancy H. C.
Van Oyen, Herman
Article History
Received: 26 January 2021
Accepted: 18 July 2021
First Online: 10 August 2021
Declarations
:
: The SARI surveillance protocol was approved by a central Ethical Committee (reference AK/12–02–11/4111). In 2011, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire St. Pierre (Brussels, Belgium) acted as the central Ethical Committee and approved the protocol on 12/02/2011. Since 2014, the Ethical Committee of Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (Brussels, Belgium) acts as central Ethical Committee. In addition, the protocol was approved by the local ethical committees of each participating hospital (Commissie voor Medische Ethiek, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel; Ethisch Comité UMC Sint-Pieter Brussel; Comité d’éthique Grand Hôpital de Charleroi; Comité d’étique, CHU UCK Namur, Site de Godinne; Ethische Toetsingscommissie Jessa Ziekenhuis, Hasselt; Commissie voor Ethiek AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV). Amendments to the protocol have been made in seasons 2013–2014 (on 29/01/2014 with reference 2012/310) and 2015–2016 (on 26/10/2015 with reference 2012/310). Either an informed consent or an informed written consent was obtained from all participants. In participating hospitals who take a second sample only for the purpose of the SARI study, an informed written consent was obtained from all participants or parents/guardians. In participating hospitals who use the sample taken for diagnostic reasons also for the SARI study, an informed consent was obtained from all participants or parents/guardians. Since season 2016–2017, a second consent, to use the sample data for further research projects on the virus, is written on the registration form. In season 2016–2017, this second consent was formulated as opt-in and from season 2017–2018 as an opt-out option.
: Not applicable.
: The authors declare that there are no conflict of interest.