Large-scale study will track virus spread, vaccination rates in D.C. region Lola Fadulu, The Washington Post Dec. 22, 2020 FacebookTwitterEmail Nurse Janelle Roper, left, administers the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to Kristin Ta, a doctor at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, last week.Washington Post photo by John McDonnell A massive study announced Tuesday may help local health officials better track the spread of the novel coronavirus in the region and identify pockets of vaccine hesitancy. The two-year study, led by researchers at MedStar Health and sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, appears to be one of the largest of its kind, health officials said. Researchers aim to recruit 60,000 participants, including those who haven't contracted the virus or received the vaccine.