Vaccine Effectiveness, Burden and Impact Studies (VEBIS) of COVID-19 and Influenza – Tender Specifications OJ/2021/DPR/12924  whole genome sequencing) and capture the information as part of the study data  collection. Identification of the variants could either be undertaken at the  local/national level in collaboration with the relevant Authorities, or with support  from ECDC. ECDC will decide which countries to be offered whole genome sequencing  support.  In addition, the contractor needs to ensure that all participating laboratories,  performing the molecular and serology diagnostics, are producing comparable  results, and are taking part to a standardisation assessment, which will be agreed with  ECDC upon beginning of the study.  DL 3.2.3. Updated list  of participating  countries and long- term care facilities  within countries.  The contractor is expected to work in close collaboration with ECDC to identify long- term care facilities to perform the studies. ECDC will support the initial identification  of long-term care facilities by providing a list of countries that have been involved in  previous studies. Specifically, ECDC will provide the contractor with an initial list of  national/regional contact points coordinating long-term care facility networks. The  contractor will liaise with the national/regional level contacts to assess the feasibility  of inclusion of sufficient numbers of long-term care facilities to implement the  protocol and to perform the study(s). The following aspects shall be considered by the contractor when assessing the  feasibility of countries to join the study:  • The identified facilities should have sufficient residents/staff to achieve the  required sample sizes for the chosen methodology. The study methodology  can include retrospective data collection for factors that may affect the  likelihood for symptomatic COVID-19, including the history of COVID-19 in  participating residents and the history of COVID-19 clusters/outbreaks in the  participating long-term care facilities.  • The identified countries/long term care facilities shall be able to implement  the protocol(s); it is expected that contractor will ensure that the  countries/long term care facilities identify data flows which will allow  capturing information on SARS-CoV variants (such as whole genome  sequencing) and capture the information as part of the data collection.  Identification of the variants could either be undertaken at the study  One unit within 12  weeks after the  signature of the  specific contract;  with additional  units every 3-12  months. Word 