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So far, over 100,000 people have volunteered to take part in COVID-19 vaccine research, helping to speed up efforts to find a safe vaccine which can be used to prevent the virus. The Government is, however, urging more people to help by signing up to the NHS COVID-19 Vaccine Research Registry to help combat the virus for good. The Government said that in order to enable large-scale vaccine studies, its aim is to round up as many volunteers as possible by October.

How to sign up to the COVID-19 vaccine research registry

To sign up to the coronavirus vaccine research registry, you can do so online.

The form will ask you some questions about yourself, and you will have to give your permission for researchers on the vaccine study to contact you.

If you do choose to sign up, your details will be kept safe and secure, and will only be shared with researchers who think you may be suitable for a study they are working on.

If you sign up, you can withdraw your permission at any time. To get involved, follow this link.

Researchers welcome people from all parts of society and all walks of life, particularly those who are more likely to benefit from a vaccine.

This includes the over 65s, front-line health and social care workers, and those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

Clinical studies with a diverse range of subjects will help scientists better understand the effectiveness of each candidate.

It will also considerably speed up efforts to discover a safe vaccine available for widespread use.

Chair of the Government’s vaccine task force, Kate Bingham, said the 100,000 volunteers accrued so far was a “great start”.

“We need many more people from many different backgrounds that we can call on for future studies if we are to find a vaccine quickly to protect those who need it against coronavirus”, Ms Bingham said.

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, said the fact so many people had already signed up “shows the selflessness of the public”.

Professor Whitty appealed for more people to sign up, saying: “It is important that we have people from different backgrounds and ages as volunteers, so that the vaccines are developed to work for everyone.”

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Dr Dinesh Saralaya, consultant respiratory physician and director for the National Institute for Health and Research in Bradford said vaccines are the most effective way out of the pandemic.

He said: “The best way to protect us from future outbreaks is to develop effective vaccines.

“Several vaccine trials are being conducted around the UK in the coming months and it is important that we all sign up to be contacted about them.

“I would like to reassure people that research trials and studies are strictly regulated for ethics and safety.”

Dr Saralaya said all trials are conducted within the guidelines of the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) and that “every precaution” will be taken to safeguard volunteers.

“By working together, we can produce efficient vaccines which are likely to protect all sections of our society from this dreadful virus in future”, he said.

Researchers around the world have been racing to find a successful coronavirus vaccine, which has infected millions of people.

A number of vaccine trials are expected to begin this autumn in the UK, working alongside the NHS, research institutions and various businesses to help develop and manufacture the business for use.

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