VOLUNTEERS from Swindon are being urged to come forward for a study to help continue the search for a new Covid-19 vaccine.  

The phase-three trial of from pharmaceutical company Janssen will test the safety and effectiveness of its two-dose regimen vaccine. 

The study will involve up to 30,000 people worldwide and will last for 12 months, with recruitment ending in March 2021.  

In the West of England, the vaccinations will take place in Bristol, at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and North Bristol NHS Trust, with follow-ups happening locally for participants from Bath, Swindon, and Gloucestershire.  

The latest study is co-funded by the UK government’s Vaccine Taskforce. 

Chair of the Government’s Vaccine Taskforce Kate Bingham said:  “The recent news about progress on the search for a vaccine is enormously exciting for the whole world, but we must not take our focus off continuing the important research to work out which vaccines work best for different people to provide long-lasting, effective protection against COVID-19.  

  “Many vaccines are needed both here in the UK, and globally, to ensure we can provide a safe and effective vaccine for the whole population.  

“That is why the launch of this trial to establish the safety, effectiveness, and very importantly the durability, of the Janssen vaccine is so significant, and I would continue to encourage people to sign up and take part in vaccine trials.   

 “By co-funding this study, we are helping generate data for future regulatory submissions internationally as well as for the UK."  

Volunteers from a variety of age groups and backgrounds, including some of the thousands who have registered to be contacted about vaccine studies through the NHS Covid-19 Vaccine Research Registry, will be contacted about taking part in this study. 

Dr Rajeka Lazarus, a consultant in infectious diseases and microbiology at UHBW and Principal Investigator for vaccine studies in the West of England said: “Vaccines are the most effective way of controlling COVID-19, and the announcement of this latest vaccine study in the West of England is another step towards finding a safe and effective solution for the virus.  

“While the progress being made is positive, we need to ensure that all possible options are investigated so we can find a vaccine, or combination of vaccines, that provide long-lasting safe protection for everyone. 

“To help us make sure that the vaccines developed will work for everyone, we need people from all backgrounds to volunteer to take part in the vaccine trials.” 

People from the West of England who are interested in taking part in the study can register their interest by completing the pre-screening questionnaire on gb.ensemblestudy.com/