1,000 people in Milton Keynes sign up to test new Covid vaccine - but more volunteers are needed

And the NHS is encouraging anybody else who wishes to take part in he research study to apply hereVolunteers must be 18 or over and must be prepared to answer basic screening questions, including whether have any long-term health conditions such as asthma.

But having a condition does not exclude them from being considered for trials, says the NHS.

Research already shows some groups are more likely to catch the virus or suffer severe illness as a result, so those who are most likely to benefit from vaccines are particularly invited to sign up.

These include over 65s, frontline workers and those from black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

The new NHS Covid-19 vaccine research registry website aims recruit thousands of people to trials, potentially leading to effective vaccines being identified and made available to the UK public earlier.

More than 200,000 UK volunteers have already signed, including 1,045 in Milton Keynes.

Researchers will send an email or text with more information about the study to anyone who matches the criteria for their trial. There is no obligation to take part in any study and people can remove their contact details and withdraw from a study at any time.

Volunteers will need to visit the hospital, or other research site, a few times over 6 to 12 months.

An NHS spokesman said: "Vaccines are tested to make sure they're safe before being tested in people. If you take part in a vaccine study, you may or may not be offered the vaccine."

The registry has been developed as part of the UK Government’s Vaccine Taskforce, in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), NHS Digital and the Northern Ireland, Scottish and Welsh Governments.

It complements other studies into Covid-19 including treatments and new tests that have recruited more than 490 participants in Milton Keynes.

Chief Executive of the NIHR’s Clinical Research Network Dr William van’t Hoff said: “I’m really grateful to the volunteers who have signed up to the NHS vaccine registry.

“I also want to praise the staff from the research community, NIHR and NHS, who have worked so well in partnership to achieve rapid recruitment into trials to tackle Covid-19.

“I would encourage everyone who hasn’t already signed up to look at the website and consider whether they would like to join the register, before the large-scale vaccine trials start in the coming weeks.