“Living in Germany – Corona Monitoring” (RKI-SOEP and RKI-SOEP-2)

How many people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or are protected from severe COVID-19 disease by vaccination? How widespread are SARS-CoV-2 antibodies? What percentage of the population is willing to get vaccinated? How is the pandemic affecting specific population groups such as refugees?

As part of RKI-SOEP-2, participants in the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) study were asked to take a dry blood spot test and complete a short questionnaire. The dry blood spot test allows researchers to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, whether due to recovery from COVID-19 infection or vaccination. The survey data will be used to assess vaccination willingness in the population and to determine what may factors be stopping people from getting vaccinated.

The Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) and the Robert Koch Institute are working together on this study. Other cooperation partners include the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and the Research Centre of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Fieldwork for this study is being conducted by the infas Institute for Applied Social Sciences on behalf of DIW Berlin.

Data collection: from November 2021 to February 2022

Sample: young people aged 14 and over and adults in Germany from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and the “Living in Germany” study. People in shared accommodation such as retirement and nursing homes are not systematically included in the panel.

Participants: 11,162 people from 6760 households (participation rate: 54%)

Study program:

• Self-sampling of a blood sample from the finger for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2
• Answering a detailed questionnaire

The Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) has partnered with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) to conduct the nationwide study “Living in Germany—Corona Monitoring”. To create the survey sample, all adult respondents in the SOEP-Core and SOEP-IS samples were invited to take part. The study has the following objectives:

1. 1. to use PCR tests to determine the prevalence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infections in the German population based on the SOEP study,
   2. to use antibody tests to assess immunity to the SARS CoV-2 pathogen in the general population,
   3. to gather information on possible symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections in the general population,
   4. to generate a new longitudinal database for research on the SARS-CoV-2 infection process,
   5. to establish starting points for researchers in the disciplines represented in the project as well as related scientific disciplines in order to promote exchange among scientists engaged in SARS-CoV-2 research,
   6. to investigate the general willingness of SOEP respondents to participate in self-testing of medical indicators as well as potential selectivity in the willingness to participate, and
   7. to provide long-term research results on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data collection: October 2020 to February 2021

Sample: People in shared accommodation such as retirement and nursing homes are not systematically included in the panel. The study includes the core samples, the innovation sample and the new migration samples (M1 and M2) of the SOEP.

Participants: 15,122 people from 9,781 households (participation rate: 48%)

Study program:

• Self-sampling of a mouth-nose swab for the detection of an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Self-sampling of a blood sample from the finger for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2
• Answering a short questionnaire - including clinical symptoms, pre-existing conditions, and health behavior.

Respondents are informed of the results within four to six weeks. Participation is voluntary. The study has been granted ethics committee approval.

DIW Berlin has commissioned Kantar to carry out the survey.