Study to test vaccine’s quality
HEALTHY Geelong residents can play a part in important medical research thanks to Barwon Health’s latest vaccine study.
A local research team is set to collect data on the effectiveness of the current meningococcal vaccine.
Barwon Health Infectious Diseases physician Dr James Pollard said it is typical for this ongoing research to be conducted on safe, proven vaccines to ensure their continued effectiveness and identify possible areas for improvement.
“The long-term aim is to ensure that what we are currently treating people with is effective, so we’re looking to see in the blood tests that participants are having the appropriate immune response,” he said.
Dr Pollard said it is also a good opportunity for people who want to participate in medical research to do so while receiving a safe and effective vaccination they would otherwise be out of pocket for.
“Meningococcal is a bacterial infection that can be life threatening in some people and while there is an active program at the moment for younger people, people in the ages of 18 to 50 may still be at risk and would benefit from vaccination but it’s currently not funded,” he said.
“This trial actually makes the vaccine available but the give back is to participate in research which is really just about quality assurance.”
Meningococcal causes in- flammation of the membrane covering the brain, infection of the blood and severe infections in the joints, throat, lungs and intestines, and is fatal in 10 per cent of cases. A further 20 per cent of survivors are left with permanent disabilities including brain damage or the loss of fingers, toes or limbs.
The Barwon South West region has had no reported cases of meningococcal so far this year, down from six at the same time in 2017. The deadly disease claimed five Victorian lives last year, including a Bellarine Peninsula man.
The volunteer study participants must be aged between 18 and 50 and have never experienced, or been vaccinated against, meningococcal before.
Volunteers will receive the vaccine free of charge and be required to attend four or five visits to Barwon Health over a period of 151 days where they will provide three blood samples.
Participants will be reimbursed for their time.
The study team has a target of recruiting at least 50 people by Christmas and 200 over the next year. For more information, or to register your interest, contact Kate Ellis on 4215 2878 or kathryc@ barwonhealth.org.au