PEOPLE in Bradford are playing a vital role in helping find a vaccine effective against future variants of Covid-19.

The research team at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Patient Recruitment Centre Bradford (PRC), based at Bradford Royal Infirmary is taking part in the study to find a new vaccine, which will be effective against the Omicron variant, plus any other variants which may develop.

The vaccine is being developed by pharmaceuticals giant, Moderna, and PRC Bradford, one of five PRCs across the UK, is one of those trialling the vaccine.

The city’s PRC opened in May 2020 and was set up to help people across the region take part in important late-phase commercial clinical research.

Its director is Professor Dinesh Saralaya, a consultant respiratory physician at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, who will be leading the latest trial.

He said: “We are very excited that our PRC is taking part in this important study to find a vaccine that is not only effective against the Omicron variant, which we know is a very contagious and fast-spreading variant of Covid-19, but which will also be effective against other new variants which may develop.

“We know that having access to effective vaccines is the best way to protect ourselves against this virus which sadly has claimed so many lives and affected so many people the world over. Effective vaccines are the only way out of this pandemic.

“I am proud that our team of Bradford researchers are once again at the forefront of such an important clinical trial and I’d like to thank the people who have volunteered to take part in the trial – their support is invaluable.”

Around 120 volunteers have been recruited for the trial – split into two age groups – those aged 16 to 65 and those aged 65 and over.

All of them are fully vaccinated and come from a diverse cross-section of the community.