Swanage Medical Practice is looking for babies under 12 months old to take part in an international study to tackle RSV infections in infants.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) affects 90% of children before the age of two and is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in infants. Often, this causes only a mild illness, like a cold, but for some babies it can lead to severe lung problems, like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
The HARMONIE Study is a collaboration between the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Sanofi and its partner AstraZeneca, in collaboration with the NHS.
Other surgeries in the area that are running the study are Dorchester and Southampton Hospitals and The Adam Practice in Poole.
The study is looking to recruit 28,000 babies across the UK, France and Germany, before the end of February 2023.
It uses an immunisation called Nirsevimub, which provides antibodies that offer babies 6 to 12 months of protection against RSV. Each baby in the study will be assigned to one of two groups, with one group receiving the injection, the other receiving nothing.
Information from both groups will be vital to the overall success of the study.
Dr Claire Hombersley is running the study at the Swanage practice, with clinics being held on Thursdays. The initial appointment is 60 to 90 minutes, with monthly questionnaires and a follow-up a year later through an app.
If you are interested in taking part in the study, please get in touch with the surgery on: 01929 422231.
More details can be found at: https://rsvharmoniestudy.com/en-gb.
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