British volunteers sought for trial of vaccine to protect against norovirus

Volunteers are being sought to help trial a new vaccine against norovirus, or the winter vomiting bug, after initial results showed the jab created a “strong immune response”.

The illness is the most common infectious cause of vomiting and diarrhoea and spreads easily through contact with contaminated surfaces or someone else who has it.

Every year norovirus is linked to around 12,000 hospital admissions in the UK and about 80 deaths.

Experts believe a new mRNA vaccine from Moderna could protect people from developing the virus.

Now 27 NHS hospitals and centres in England, Scotland and Wales are taking part in a trial, with the hope 2,500 people will sign up before the end of December.

Half will receive the vaccine while the other half get a dummy drug and volunteers will be checked over the course of around 25 months.

Scientists hope the results will show 65% or higher efficacy for the jab.

Dr Patrick Moore, chief investigator for the study, said there were currently “no approved vaccines for norovirus anywhere in the world” and the treatment for patients in hospital is limited to intravenous fluids.

He added: “It causes vomiting and diarrhoea, usually for two to three days. 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.

“About one in five cases of gastroenteritis are caused by norovirus – that’s about four million cases annually in the UK and about 685 million globally.”

Researchers are including adults of all ages in the trial, though people aged 60 and over are being encouraged to join as they can be badly affected by norovirus.

Around 25,000 people are expected to be recruited globally for the study, including the US, Canada and Japan.

The vaccine has been engineered to combat three strains of the virus which were responsible for more than two-thirds (67%) of noroviruses cases in 2023/24.

The new trial is part of the UK’s 10-year strategic partnership with Moderna, which is investing in UK clinical trials and building a new mRNA research, development and manufacturing facility.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Norovirus is highly infectious and puts the NHS under huge strain every winter, costing taxpayers around £100m a year.”

He added: “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”.

Older adults and immunocompromised patients are usually at higher risk of severe complications and death from norovirus.

Around two-thirds of outbreaks are in care homes but places such as hospitals, nurseries and schools are also at risk.

In 2023 there was a spike in norovirus cases in England – with weekly figures three times the average according to NHS data.