Tooting: St George's Hospital is looking for teenage volunteers for vaccine research

Young people aged between 12 and 16 are being encouraged to take part in a trial that would see them take the second dose of the vaccine.

Currently, anyone younger than 17 is only recommended to take a single dose, unless they are at greater risk, then they are recommended two.

Researchers running the University of Oxford-led Com-COV programme have begun enrolling young people on the study. The trial, backed through funding from the Vaccines Taskforce and National Institute for Health Research, is looking to recruit 360 volunteers.

So far, there are six sites across the UK and it is expanding to nine recruiting areas - including Tooting and St George's Hospital.

All participants will be randomly allocated at the time of their second dose to receive either a full second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, a one-third dose of the Pfizer vaccine, a full dose of the Novavax vaccine or a half dose of the Moderna vaccine.

These vaccines will be administered at least eight weeks after their first dose, and sites hope to complete this stage of the study by early December.

The study is single-blind and randomised, meaning participants will not know what second dose of vaccine they are receiving.

Researchers will assess any side effects and immune system responses to these new combinations of vaccines.

Professor Matthew Snape, Chief Investigator on the trial, said: "Teenagers are currently experiencing the highest rate of infections of all age groups in the UK.

"This study will be critical to delivering vital information on the range of options for immunising teenagers against COVID-19 in the UK to help control this.

"Therefore, we are asking for 12 to 16 years olds to take this opportunity to receive a second dose of vaccine and help us understand how best to immunise teenagers to protect them and their families.

"We are very grateful to those young volunteers and their parents who have signed up for the study so far. We hope the addition of new trial sites will encourage even more participants to get involved in this critically important research."

All those who are interested can register via the Com-COV website.

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