Young people in Southampton are taking part in a national study that will help inform how to best vaccinate teenagers in the UK.
Com-COV 3 is testing multiple options for second dose COVID-19 vaccines. More healthy volunteers are needed from the region for the trial at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility.
Adolescents aged 12 to 15 are currently routinely offered only one dose of vaccine. The results from this University of Oxford-led study will provide vital information for the government and JCVI to assess the best next steps for this age group.
Volunteers needed in Southampton
Researchers are looking for volunteers aged 12 to 16 years old (up until 17th birthday) who have received one dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
The trial is single-blind and randomised, meaning participants will not know what second dose vaccine (Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna or Novavax) they are receiving.
The study involves five visits to a clinic at University Hospital Southampton over approximately 12 months. These are primarily after school and at weekends to avoid disruption to schooling.
Com-COV 3 is recruiting 360 volunteers across the country, with other centres running the study in Oxford, London, Bristol and Cardiff.
Second doses in the spring
This is the latest in a series of studies such as Com-COV and COV-BOOST that have looked at ways the different COVID-19 vaccines available in the UK can be used to generate the best and most durable immune response, in as safe a manner as possible.
Dr Katrina Cathie, Consultant in General Paediatrics and Paediatric Research at University Hospital Southampton and local lead for the trial, said: “The results from this trial are expected around Christmas and will directly inform decisions about the roll-out of a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in this age group in the spring.
“We have had brilliant responses and support from the public taking part in many other COVID-19 vaccine trials in the last 18 months and we have no doubt there will be significant interest in this study from our local population in Wessex.”
Young people aged 12-16 years can visit https://comcovstudy.org.uk/participate-soton-comcov3 to find out more and register their interest.