A first-of-its-kind vaccine against the vomit bug norovirus is being trialled in the UK, using the same tech employed in the Covid jab.
Thousands of Brits end up in hospital every year due to the highly contagious virus, which usually results in nasty bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea.
Globally, it causes about 200,000 deaths annually – a quarter of which are children.
The new mRNA vaccine from Moderna is due to enter its final stages of testing in the next couple of weeks, with results so far indicating it prompts a ‘strong immune response’.
It targets three strains of the norovirus by teaching the immune system to recognise foreign proteins and telling it to mount an attack.
Chief investigator of the study Dr Patrick Moore said the lack of a vaccine currently means seriously ill people in hospital can only be treated with intravenous fluids.
He said: ‘It can affect people of all ages, and it usually peaks in the winter months in the UK… but we do see norovirus throughout the whole of the year.’
There are around 80 deaths each year from norovirus in the UK, typically older adults and immunocompromised patients.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he believes the vaccine could provide a valuable chance to reduce the burden on the NHS.
He said the virus costs taxpayers around £100 million every year, adding: ‘Not only is this a huge vote of confidence in the UK’s life sciences sector, but a successful vaccine will help shift our health system away from sickness and towards prevention – reducing pressure on the NHS and keeping people well during the colder months.’
The trial involves 27 NHS hospitals and centres in England, Scotland and Wales, with some sending mobile clinics to care homes and other community sites.
It’s hoped that 2,500 people will sign up to take part before the end of this year, of whom half will get the vaccine and the other half with get a placebo.
Patients from the US, Canada and Japan are also involved, bringing the expected total number of participants internationally to around 25,000.
Moderna hopes to file marketing applications in 2026 to get the vaccine approved by regulators.
Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care, said: ‘This novel vaccine could make a difference to the lives of many – especially our most vulnerable citizens – and reduce the burden of seasonal illness on the NHS.
‘Leveraging the UK’s expertise in vaccine development, the DHSC through the NIHR and Moderna are delivering this large-scale trial at pace, so that people across the UK and the world can benefit sooner.’
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