Novavax vaccine trialled in Blackpool passes UK trials

The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine, trialled in the resort at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Layton Medical Centre, has passed UK tests.
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The vaccine has demonstrated 89.3 per cent efficacy in its UK phase three trial.

US biotech firm Novavax said its vaccine "showed strong efficacy in its phase three UK trial with over 50 per cent of cases attributable to the now-predominant UK variant and the remainder attributable to Covid-19 virus."

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Novavax also announced successful results of its Phase 2b study conducted in South Africa.

The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine has passed UK trials, some of which were held in Blackpool.The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine has passed UK trials, some of which were held in Blackpool.
The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine has passed UK trials, some of which were held in Blackpool.

Trials of the phase three vaccine began in the resort on September 28 last year.

They were held at Layton Medical Centre and Blackpool Victoria Hospital's Patient Recruitment Centre (PRC), led by principal investigator Dr Rebecca Clark and researcher Dr Angela Parker respectively.

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 84 were eligible to take part.

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In response to the news the Novavax jab has passed trials, Dr Clark said: "I'm immensely proud to be one of the UK principal investigators on this study.

"Even prouder of my team who have worked tirelessly for six months.

"This really is why we do research. Congratulations team Novavax."

Some 500 people were urged to sign up for the Novavax study in the resort, which signified the last testing hurdle before the Novavax jab could be officially classed as safe and effective.

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But the response was overwhelming, with 2,500 willing participants putting their names forward.

The trial was 'double-blind', which meant volunteers - as well as medics - didn't know if they had been given the vaccine or a saline placebo.

Participants were asked to take part in at least six visits over the course of around 13 months for blood tests and to see if they had contracted Covid-19.

More to follow.

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