00:00And due to the fact the strains often change, it makes it difficult for our bodies to build
00:06up long-term resistance to the bug and as a result it can lead to us catching it multiple
00:11times.
00:13While there is no specific treatment for norovirus at the moment, the world's first vaccine
00:19is in the process of being developed. Experts believe that this mRNA vaccine from Moderna
00:26could help people struggling with the winter bug.
00:30Norovirus is linked to around 12,000 hospital admissions in the UK every year. It's reported
00:36that the jab uses mRNA technology to tell the immune system to recognise a foreign protein
00:42on viruses and in this case it is hoped to target three major strains of norovirus.
00:50The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said a successful vaccine will
00:55help shift our health system away from sickness and towards prevention, reducing pressure
01:01on the NHS and keeping people well during the colder months.
01:07At the moment, volunteers are being recruited across the south to take part in clinical
01:11trials for the developing vaccine. The Nova 301 trial is thought to take about two years
01:17and has been sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Moderna. These trials are taking place
01:22across the country in places like Bournemouth, Weymouth and Portsmouth.
01:27The Nova 301 trial itself is looking to recruit around 25,000 people globally to investigate
01:34the vaccine to see if it could protect against symptoms caused by the notorious stomach bug.
01:41It's reported that Dr Patrick Moore, the National Chief Investigator of the Nova 301
01:48trial said, outbreaks of norovirus have huge consequences both on our health systems and
01:54our economy.
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