This week, a new NHS service was launched enabling people to sign up to be contacted to take part in coronavirus vaccine trials.
The NHS Covid-19 vaccine research registry was launched on July 20 across the UK to recruit volunteers into trials over the coming months.
The NHS said recruiting a large number of people for testing could potentially mean an “effective vaccine for coronavirus can be found and made available.”
Tom Denwood, NHS digital executive director for Data, Insights and Statistics, explained: “Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways of keeping people healthy and have the potential to help us beat COVID-19.
“There is some incredible vaccine development underway, as highlighted in recent media reports.
“However, in order to develop a vaccine that works for different groups of people, researchers of the vaccine studies need to run multiple simultaneous studies – and that means finding a large number of volunteers who would like to take part in them.
“This new service should make a real difference in expanding the number of volunteers, and we are proud to be the technology delivery partner, supporting the collective national effort.”
Registration is now available to anyone aged 18 or over living in the UK.
Researchers are looking for people from all backgrounds and ages, including both people with or without existing health conditions, to take part.
This, the NHS said, will ensure that any vaccines developed will work for everyone.
By signing up you will be providing consent for researchers to contact you about taking part in the NIHR approved UK coronavirus vaccine studies.
Registering involves email verification and then providing your name, date of birth, postcode, sex registered at birth, gender and ethnic grouping.
There are also some questions around your health that will help to identify if you are suitable for particular studies.
To keep up to date with the number of corornavirus cases in your local area enter your postcode below.
A number of possible vaccines have already been identified and are being tested, but the NHS said only large scale trials can give scientists the information on their effective use.
To find out more visit www.nhs.uk/researchcontact.
For general information about taking part in research, including other opportunities to support the fight against COVID-19, go to www.bepartofresearch.uk
