In the first wave of the pandemic, SAFER
was set up to answer questions around
the proportion of frontline NHS staff
in acute care who contracted COVID-19,
the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection,
the frequency of asymptomatic infection
and persistence (or not) of antibodies.

The behavioural science work package in SAFER
is investigating healthcare workers’ experiences
of working during the COVID-19 pandemic,
their perceptions of risk, and the extent to which
healthcare workers engage in protective behaviours.

The interaction study focuses on how the movements,
activities, and interactions of healthcare workers and patients
influence patterns of nosocomial transmission of COVID-19.

SAFER is a flagship project for UCL/UCLH.
UCLH Virology as part of the pandemic response
has extended the routine support to UCLH staff
and Occupational Health with a mailbox open
to all staff for COVID-19 vaccine queries and a regular clinic.