A new vaccine against the winter vomiting bug, norovirus, is being tested on volunteers after preliminary findings indicated the injection elicited a “strong immune response”.
The goal of the trial, which is being conducted by 27 NHS hospitals and centres in England, Scotland and Wales, is to recruit 2,500 participants by the end of December. Volunteers will be monitored for about 25 months, with half receiving the vaccine and the other half receiving a dummy drug. Scientists anticipate that the data will demonstrate that the jab is at least 65 per cent effective.
In the UK, norovirus is responsible for roughly 80 deaths and 12,000 hospital admissions annually.
According to Dr Patrick Moore, the study's principal investigator and director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in the South West, there are currently “no approved vaccines for norovirus anywhere in the world” and intravenous fluids are the only treatment available for hospitalised patients with severe illnesses.
He said: “Norovirus is what we know as the winter vomiting bug, and it’s highly transmissible.
“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.”
What is norovirus?
The stomach virus known as norovirus, or “winter vomiting bug” causes diarrhoea and vomiting. Although it might be somewhat uncomfortable, it normally goes away in two days or less, according to the NHS.
As well as these symptoms, you may also have a high temperature, a headache and aching arms and legs.
Staying at home and getting rest is the quickest way to recover. It’s also important to stay hydrated.
You can catch norovirus by coming into close contact with an infected person, touching infected surfaces or objects and then touching your mouth and by consuming food that has been handled or prepared by an infected person.
The best defence against its spread is frequent hand washing with soap and water. The NHS says that norovirus is not killed by alcohol-based hand gels.
How will the norovirus trials work?
Adults of all ages are welcome to participate in the trials, although those 60 and older are urged to do so because they are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of norovirus.
The study needs to recruit over 25,000 participants worldwide, including from the US, Canada and Japan.
Over two-thirds (67 per cent) of norovirus cases in 2023–2024 were caused by three strains of the virus, which the vaccination is designed to prevent.
In addition to investing in UK clinical trials and constructing a new mRNA research, development and manufacturing facility, the new study is a component of the UK's 10-year strategic collaboration with Moderna.
Wes Streeting, the health and social care secretary, 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.”
