Wansford and King’s Cliffe Practice to hold Moderna covid vaccine trial

A GP surgery is taking part in a new covid vaccine trial.

While covid is no longer considered a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ by the World Health Organisation, the pandemic has not yet been declared over.

Research remains ongoing and people are still being encouraged to ensure they are vaccinated.

Keen to keep booster vaccines protecting against new variants and mutations, Wansford and King’s Cliffe Practice is taking part in a new covid trial which starts this week.

The study will evaluate if the trial vaccine, from drug company Moderna, protects against Omicron and other new variants.

Lorraine Archer, who leads the research department at Wansford surgery, said: “We know that any variant will ultimately mutate.

“The trial is looking at how effective this vaccine will be against multiple variants and at providing wider protection.”

Some participants will be given the trial vaccine and others a jab already in use. This will be decided at random.

During the 13-month trial people will have blood tests and swabs, and if they contract covid there will be wider testing.

Lorraine said: “Covid is unfortunately still with us and we are still seeing symptomatic infections.

“We tend to see peaks and troughs. At times there will be a cluster of infections and at others covid doesn’t seem to be circulating in the community.

“What we want to do is maintain and improve the vaccines as this is valuable for the next potential wave or mutation.

“It is about staying ahead of the virus.

“We know through the history of pandemics over many hundreds of years what happens is that they mutate, not necessarily into something worse but the transmissibility often increases.”

The trial is open to people at least 12 years old who have already received a Covid-19 vaccine, and if over 18 at least one booster dose.

At Wansford researchers are looking for ‘as many people as would like to to sign up’ - although this does not automatically guarantee a space on the trial.

They will be part of a wider global study involving more than 10,000 volunteers.

A study was held at the surgery last year for an Omicron specific' vaccine with 200 people taking part.

“We had a very positive outcome and it showed to be effective,” said Lorraine.

Anyone wanting to sign up can visit www.NextCOVEStudyUK.com

Or for more information contact clinical coordinator Laura Costello by calling 01780 781623 or emailing laura.costello3@nhs.net.