DelRicht Research is proud to highlight the performance of its multi-site network in a U.S.-based Phase 3b/4 COVID-19 booster vaccine trial, where speed, coordination, and adaptability were critical to success.

Exclusively selected as the site network for this study, DelRicht was tasked with enrolling both adolescent and adult populations across five sites, each facing unique recruitment and operational challenges. Despite these complexities, the network delivered full enrollment on an accelerated timeline, reinforcing its ability to execute high-priority vaccine trials at scale.

Accelerating Study Start-Up

Speed to activation is a defining factor in vaccine trials, and DelRicht’s start-up performance set the tone early. From study award to First Site Activated and First Patient Screened/Enrolled, the network achieved a 39-day turnaround, supported by:

– 1-day turnaround on essential documents
– 48-hour first pass on CTA and budget
– Seamless coordination across sites and sponsor/CRO partners

Notably, all sites screened and enrolled their first patient on the same day as activation, demonstrating a high level of operational readiness and alignment from day one.

Navigating Complex Recruitment Barriers

Like many large, multi-site clinical trials, the study presented several operational and recruitment complexities that posed challenges to both enrollment and overall execution.

1. Vaccine Hesitancy: Participant and caregiver concerns, particularly around the placebo-controlled design, impacted both recruitment and retention.

2. Strict Risk Factor Criteria: Eligibility required at least one qualifying condition (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, immunocompromised status), significantly narrowing the available participant pool.

3. Adolescent Enrollment Complexity: Recruiting participants aged 12-17 introduced added logistical hurdles, including caregiver involvement, scheduling coordination, and additional consent considerations.

Targeted Strategies to Drive Enrollment

DelRicht addressed these challenges through a combination of operational discipline, community engagement, and tailored recruitment strategies:

1. Education-Driven Engagement to Reduce Hesitancy: The team implemented community outreach initiatives, enhanced digital education (FAQs, web content), and extended one-on-one screening conversations. Standardized communication frameworks ensured staff could clearly address concerns around placebo, safety, and trial design.

2. Smarter Prequalification to Offset Exclusion Rates: High-volume prescreening, refined early qualification criteria, and targeted outreach to patients with chronic conditions improved efficiency and increased the proportion of eligible participants.

3. Structured Support for Adolescent Recruitment: To better engage younger participants and their families, sites introduced caregiver compensation, prioritized scheduling for dependent visits, and leveraged targeted social and community-based outreach to improve accessibility and participation.

Full Enrollment, High-Quality Data, and Network-Wide Impact

Through these combined efforts, DelRicht successfully enrolled 832 participants across five sites, achieving 100% of the study’s enrollment goal within a focused 9-week period. Additional performance highlights include:

– Same-day screening and enrollment at activation across all sites
– Full adolescent cohort enrollment
– 90.1% average diary compliance, reflecting strong patient engagement and high-quality data collection

While many sites in similar studies face delays due to recruitment barriers or operational inefficiencies, DelRicht’s integrated network model enabled consistent performance across locations, ensuring both speed and data integrity.

What This Means for Sponsors and CROs

This study reinforces key advantages of working with a fully aligned site network:

– Rapid start-up timelines are achievable with centralized coordination and experienced teams
– Recruitment barriers, whether behavioral, clinical, or logistical, can be mitigated with tailored, site-level strategies
– Adolescent and complex populations require intentional workflows, not one-size-fits-all approaches
– High compliance rates are driven by patient education, engagement, and operational consistency

Partner With DelRicht Research

From rapid start-up to quality data capture, DelRicht Research delivers the infrastructure, experience, and adaptability required for today’s most complex vaccine trials.

If you’re planning an upcoming study, our team is ready to help you accelerate timelines, improve enrollment outcomes, and maintain data quality from start to finish.

Learn more on our website or connect with us to discuss your next vaccine trial.