The RCP has responded to the news that thousands of volunteers will receive a booster COVID-19 vaccine in a new clinical trial launching this week, announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
In response to the news, Professor Cheng-Hock Toh, academic vice president at the Royal College of Physicians, said:
“We very much welcome the launch of this trial. Clinical research has been the secret to plotting a path out of the pandemic, and will be key to keeping it at bay in the coming months.
“The development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 has saved countless lives, and work to evaluate the impact of a third booster dose is imperative.
“Studies like this are dependent on clinicians up and down the country taking the time to recruit patients, run trials and analyse the results.
“It is vital that NHS trusts are enabled to support clinicians to become involved in research, not just now but in future so they can help to improve patient care.”