A new study is investigating a COVID-19 booster vaccine designed to protect against multiple variants.
People are taking part in research hubs across the Wessex region, supported in Southampton by the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF).
UK-wide research effort
More than one million people have taken part in COVID-19 research across the UK.
Thanks to their efforts, we now have effective vaccines and treatments.
Professor Saul Faust is Director of the NIHR Southampton CRF and Clinical Director of the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex. He said:
“Public participation in COVID-19 research is still vital to enable effective treatments to be identified, evidenced and made available to NHS patients.
“We are inviting people to take part in this important study for a vaccine that may protect against multiple variants, including the Omicron variant.”
Take part in the study
The new COVID-19 booster vaccine has been developed by Moderna.
The NextCOVE Study is open to people aged 18 and older who have received a COVID-19 vaccine and at least one booster dose. We can also enrol young people aged 12 to 17 who have received a COVID-19 vaccine.
People can take part in one of four Wessex Research Hubs: Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Weymouth. Qualified participants will receive payment for their trial-related time and travel.
Please visit www.nextcovestudyuk.com to find out more.
Ongoing research
A number of approved COVID-19 vaccines are now available, but it is still very important to take part in new research.
Different vaccines and dose schedules are needed for different groups of people. Several COVID-19 vaccine studies are still running in the UK, which need more volunteers to step forward.
Dr Patrick Moore, Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the NIHR CRN Wessex, said:
"We have been overwhelmed by the response from our local communities in the search for better vaccines.
“I would like to thank these volunteers for their continued support and for stepping forward to take part in our vital ongoing research.
“It is important we continue the fight against COVID-19 and its evolving variants, to develop new and improved vaccines to protect the most vulnerable and inform future vaccine booster programmes."
For general information about COVID-19 research studies, please click here.