VOLUNTEERS from Warrington and Halton are being asked to sign up to a new study which could see a new coronavirus vaccine approved for use across the country.

The National Institute for Health Research-supported Valneva study will be run at Halton Hospital’s clinical research unit and is open to healthy adults who have not previously had a Covid-19 vaccine.

Across the UK, 4,000 participants will be recruited for the study, which will see each participant receive two active vaccine doses administered in a four-week interval.

Those enrolled in the study over the age of 30 will be randomised to receive two doses of either the Valneva vaccine or the approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Participants aged 18 to 29 can be enrolled into the study to receive the Valneva vaccine and will not be offered the approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Developed by specialist vaccine company Valneva, the vaccine is being manufactured at the company’s site in Scotland and is the only inactivated, adjuvanted (an ingredient to create a stronger immune response) Covid-19 vaccine in clinical development in Europe.

If Valneva’s vaccine is shown to be safe and effective, up to 250million vaccine doses could be supplied to the UK and other countries around the world.

As part of the UK Government’s vaccine procurement approach, up to 100million doses of this vaccine have been secured.

Warrington and Halton Hospitals CEO Professor Simon Constable and chairman Steve McGuirk officially opened the new clinical research unit at Halton Hospital last month

Warrington and Halton Hospitals CEO Professor Simon Constable and chairman Steve McGuirk officially opened the new clinical research unit at Halton Hospital last month

Simon Constable, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Hospitals, said: “The team at our clinical research unit at Halton Hospital is ready to receive and support volunteers during this trial.

“We hope that the accessibility of this research site, with ample parking and good transport links, will encourage more people in Halton, Warrington and the wider Cheshire and Merseyside region to register to take part in this new vaccine study.”

Dr Marcin Bula, principal investigator of the Valneva Covid-19 trial, added: “We are pleased to be supporting the Valneva vaccine trial at the clinical research unit at Halton Hospital, which will give our local community the opportunity to access a vaccine and take part in a trial.

“Vaccines are an effective weapon against Covid-19, and with encouraging safety and immune response results from the initial phase one study, we hope our involvement in this trial will support the successful development of this candidate to give the UK and the rest of the world a number of vaccine solutions.”

Volunteers for the study will be vaccinated at the beginning of May, and interest can be registered via ukcovid19study.com

WATCH LIVE: Don’t miss our Warrington Guardian Lockdown Heroes Awards tonight, Friday, April 30 from 7pm. Click here to go to our awards site