Background: Up to 30% of the European population lives in an European internal border region. In the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (EMR) multiple challenges on pandemic response were brought to the attention early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. Citizens and border commuters in the EMR were confronted with difficulties related to divergent policies applicable in the three nations. A thorough analysis of the pandemic response in Euroregions through comparable cross-border data collection enables the evaluation of different infection prevention policies on public health. Methods: ‘Impact of COVID-19 on the EMR’ is a longitudinal study of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in inhabitants of the EMR. The sampling design is stratified random sampling. Prospective data collection took place between April and November 2021, and consisted of two self-finger prick antibody tests and two online questionnaires. The study enables to evaluate (1) the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and its determinants and (2) the practice and attitudes to COVID-19 measures on the population in the EMR over time. Discussion: The project is a unique example of a close interregional cooperation in the development of a shared research project; conceptual development, survey-approach, data-collection, data-analysis and reporting. Collection of comparative cross-border data can aid policy makers, health care providers and other stakeholders to better assess the impact of infectious disease control measures in border regions.
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