East of England GP recruits first UK participant to Moderna Omicron trial
Having successfully run the first phase of one of the world’s first Omicron-specific variant vaccines the research team at Wansford and King’s Cliffe Practice, Peterborough, has now recruited the first UK participant to the second phase which is targeting multiple COVID-19 variants.
The first phase of the innovative study from Moderna, Inc, working with the NIHR opened at the Practice in February and saw around 100 local participants receive a first or second booster to help test the effectiveness of a tweaked vaccine targeting the Omicron strain.
This latest part of the study, which opened at the site on the 2 April, will further investigate a vaccine which targets multiple COVID-19 variants. Half of the volunteers will receive one of Moderna’s Omicron variant vaccines and the other half will receive the commonly used standard Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax).
This trial is enrolling volunteers 16 years of age or older who are in good or stable health and have received two or three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 90 days ago.
Participation in this trial lasts up to 13 months and includes phone calls and approximately 5-7 scheduled visits to the trial site.
Dr Amrit Takhar, NIHR Clinical Research Network Primary Care Lead for the East of England, said:
“We are very grateful to the generosity of those who have volunteered to participate in the trial so far to help us test the latest vaccines to help protect everyone from the continuing effects of the covid variants such as Omicron. This trial is really important to help define the best booster vaccines to use the future.”
Dr Helen Macdonald, Chief Operating Officer for the NIHR Clinical Research Network East of England, said:
“Although we’ve come a long way in finding treatments and vaccinations for COVID-19 over the last two years there is still much more to do to tackle further variants. This trial is crucial in helping us make progress and find even more effective vaccines. Congratulations to Dr Nally’s team and to the UK’s first volunteer enrolled into the trial and thank you to everyone involved in this vital research.”
Participants will need to have not tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of November 2021 and should have had their last vaccine at least three months prior to joining the study.
To find out if you are eligible to join the study, visit the study’s website today.
You can also call the Research Team at Wansford and King’s Cliffe directly on 01780 781623 / 01780 408001 or email their Research Coordinator at laura.costello3@nhs.net.
