Enrolment nearing completion in swine flu vaccine study

The University’s Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, at Southampton General Hospital, hoped to involve 250 children and their parents from the region in this study; half the children aged between 6 months and 3 years and the other half from 3 to 12 years old. Over 195 children are already participating and another 50 have appointments booked ready to join on the weekend of 24 and 25 October.

Dr Saul Faust, senior lecturer in child health at the University of Southampton and a specialist in paediatric infectious diseases at Southampton General Hospital, is leading the study in Southampton. He comments: “There has been an unprecedented response by parents and their children in the south. It is unparalleled for any clinical trial in children I am aware of, and I’d like to express my thanks to all those families who have wanted to take part.”

Across the five study sites – Oxford, Southampton, Bristol, Exeter and St George’s in South London – over 600 children have received their first vaccination as part of this trial and a further 200 have appointments booked.

The researchers would like a final total of around 1000 children to be involved in the whole study, and the team in Southampton is asking the parents of children under three who would like to register their interest to go to the study website at www.swineflutrial.org for further information.

“With more children of this age involved, the power of the study to give clear results will be improved,” adds Dr Faust.

Enrolment began on 23 September and the first children were vaccinated at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford on 26 September and in Southampton on 3 October. The Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility at Southampton General Hospital are hoping to get any other parents and children involved in time to give vaccinations this weekend, 24 and 25 October.