A third Covid vaccine has been found to be 89.3 per cent effective after a trial carried out partly in Cornwall.

The Novavax study took place at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust as one of 35 UK research sites, which also included the National Institute for Health Research's patient recruitment centre based at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust.

The vaccine, which is being supported by the research institute, has published findings from the interim analysis of the phase three study and included effectiveness against the new variants.

It said the Novavax study was the largest ever double blind, placebo-controlled trial to be undertaken in the UK.

It recruited more than 15,000 participants in just over two months and was the first phase three study for the US-based biotechnology firm Novavax’s vaccine anywhere in the world.

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In Cornwall the study was conducted at the Knowledge Spa site on the grounds of the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

Dr Duncan Browne, consultant endocrinologist at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and principal investigator for the trial at the hospital, said: “We are delighted to have been part of such a successful trial which should enable another Covid vaccine to be used in the UK in the coming months.

"I would like to thank all my colleagues at RCHT whose hard work helped make this possible along with the patients in Cornwall and the south west who have given up their time to take part in the study.”

The interim efficacy data and safety data will now be submitted to all regulators across the world – including the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK – for independent scrutiny and product approval.

A significant proportion of participants taking part in the study were recruited through the NHS Covid-19 Vaccine Research Registry: an online registry of more than 390,000 people who have signed-up to be contacted about taking part in Covid-19 vaccine studies.

More than 25 per cent of those enrolled in the trial were over the age of 65, and a large proportion of volunteers had underlying medical conditions that were said to be generally representative of the population.

Volunteers were given two intramuscular injections of the vaccine – or a placebo – 21 days apart.

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Professor Michael Gibbons, consultant respiratory physician and clinical director of the NIHR Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula, said: “The South West Peninsula has contributed so much to this pivotal trial.

"The staff at the NIHR Patient Recruitment Centre and at Royal Cornwall Hospital worked tirelessly to recruit more than 800 participants over a two month period.

"This was a great opportunity for the people of the south west who stepped up tremendously to support this study. We are very proud of the achievements of the teams at both Trusts and want to thank all the staff for their exceptional work and dedication.”

The UK government has already secured 60 million doses of the Novavax vaccine. Provided it meets standards on safety, effectiveness and quality following publication of results, the vaccine will be manufactured in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees.