Local 12-17 year olds have been asked to take part in a groundbreaking study which aims to find out how effective a type of Covid vaccine is.

University Hospitals of North Midlands and Midlands Partnership Foundation NHS Trust are working in partnership to launch a new adolescent Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial and together are only one of four centres taking part in the UK for the international study.

The trial will evaluate how effective the Valneva vaccine is. Healthy adolescent volunteers are being asked to participate in the study, which will last for approximately 15 months.

Dr Will Carroll, consultant paediatrician at UHNM, said: "This study is an incredibly important part of our fight against Covid-19. It means that going forward we will have a range of possible vaccine types available and this will significantly reduce the risk of 'escape variants' - future versions of the virus which have developed as a result of weak immune response.

"Current vaccines available for this age group only generate antibodies to a small part of the virus - the spike protein. The unique Valneva vaccine is an inactivated virus vaccine, which means that it uses more tried and tested vaccine technology. The adult version has already been approved for use following studies showing it is safe and effective."

16 and 17 year-olds will require consent to take part in the study. 12-15 year-olds will require assent as well as consent from parent or legal guardian.

If you or someone you know may be interested please contact the MPFT R&I study team: [email protected] or call 0808 196 3890.