NHS Seeks Volunteers for World's First Norovirus Vaccine Trial to Prevent Thousands of Hospitalizations

Oct 23, 2024, 07:58 AM

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is set to trial the world's first mRNA vaccine against norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug. The vaccine, developed by Moderna, aims to immunize people against the highly contagious virus, which is linked to around 12,000 hospital admissions in the UK each year. British volunteers are being sought to participate in the innovative trial, which will open across the UK, including at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), over the next two weeks. Initial results have shown that the jab creates a "strong immune response," and experts believe it could prevent thousands of hospitalizations annually and ease pressure on the NHS during winter. If successful, the vaccine could be available as soon as 2026.