Appeal for volunteers to take part in COVID-19 vaccine comparison study

The research team at University Hospitals Plymouth are asking for volunteers to take part in a new COVID-19 vaccine study, which will involve participants receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.

If you are aged over 30 and in relatively good health, and have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, the research team would like to invite you to sign up to take part. Anyone who is interested should please email plh-tr.contactvaccinestudy@nhs.net for further information.

Participants will be randomised and either receive two doses of the new Valneva vaccine, of which the UK government has already secured up to 100 million doses should it be shown to be safe and effective, or the approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

The study, supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), is being managed by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust in collaboration with researchers from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Claire Bethune, Consultant Immunologist and Principal Investigator for the study at University Hospitals Plymouth, said: “Clinical studies into COVID-19 vaccines remain critical to help increase the number of safe and effective vaccines to help to protect us all. We need to ensure that there are as many vaccines to help fight COVID-19 as possible, which can be rolled out across the world, and can protect all individuals across different populations.

“This study is looking at a completely different vaccine to those we have seen so far. It is the first and only inactivated vaccine for COVID-19 in clinical development in Europe at the moment. Early trials have been really promising, both in terms of safety and effectiveness.

“This is a great opportunity for people who are able to travel to Plymouth, to do their bit in the fight against COVID-19, as well as to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in the next few weeks.”

Participants will also benefit from all their expenses being covered – up to £600.

To find out more or to sign up to the study, please email plh-tr.contactvaccinestudy@nhs.net