A NORTH EAST man has called for answers after signing up to the Novavax trial, only to find out minutes later he should not have been able to due to existing medication.
Bill Shurmer has ended up having two AstraZeneca vaccines and one dose of the Teesside-made jab after confusion at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.
It comes as around 15,000 Novavax trial volunteers have been left in limbo as guidance is yet to be published on whether having an alternative vaccine is safe.
Read more: Mum's fear that she could give Covid to vulnerable daughter after taking part in vaccine trial
Mr Shurmer's wife, Pam has since said the confusion has revealed there are "double standards" for when things go wrong with Novavax, while saying volunteers had continued to be left in the dark.
But speaking to The Northern Echo, Mr Shurmer called for answers as to how the exception had been made as his wife, along with thousands of others, had been left waiting for a decision after also taking part in the trial.
The Hartlepool man had been allowed to sign up to the trial last October after being initially advised his blood-thinning medication, Warfarin would not pose a risk.
However, just minutes after receiving his first dose of Novavax, he said he was given an information booklet advising volunteers that those on anti-coagulant medication should not take part.
As a result, he was then advised he would be able to seek one dose of the approved Covid jab following "national advice" and a "discussion" with the hospital's Novavax study lead.
Wife, Mrs Shurmer said: "They gave us these pieces of paper and a letter to the GP saying that we had started on the Novavax trial and during this time they should not be given any anti-coagulants.
Read more: Government urged to 'take action' over impact of Novavax on North East participants
"I said 'hang on a minute, what is this all about', and they were all a bit like 'oh we will have to speak to somebody and we'll get back to you'.
"Two weeks later, a research nurse called saying that he shouldn't have been and one of the doctors will be ringing us back."
Mr Shurmer was then advised that he would not be able to have a second dose of Novavax.
But it was not until February this year, that he was finally advised on the next steps and encouraged to have one dose of an approved vaccine.
A letter seen by The Northern Echo from the Novavax Study Team at the University Hospital of Hartlepool confirmed that Mr Shurmer should attend an appointment for one dose of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer.
Mrs Shurmer said: "I started asking the questions, I asked Novavax what is the evidence of safety of mix and matching vaccines – they never got back to me."
But fearing he would lose out on protection, Mr Shurmer said he attended both appointments for the AstraZeneca vaccine, to which he said he has suffered no "ill effects."
Mrs Shurmer, who received both Novavax jabs, one in October and one in November, last year, said that volunteers had been repeatedly told approval was just "weeks away," eight months on.
She said: "They kept telling us that it will be another couple of months, and then another couple of month, how can any of us believe them.
"I do feel the Government has got something to answer for here – in one breath, they are forever saying 'we're so grateful' to our volunteers, but then not doing anything."
A Government spokesperson said that it is "committed" to taking action on this issue, and said that decisions for volunteers in a vaccine trial to receive an alternative should be made in conjunction with clinicians who lead the trial.
It said that it was also committed to reviewing guidance on providing additional vaccination for those affected by the Novavax trial.
The spokesperson said: “Clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccinations have played an instrumental role in getting us to the point where we have safe, approved vaccines and they are providing critical data to help us respond to this pandemic.
“We are clear that volunteers informally approved Covid-19 vaccine trials in the UK should not be disadvantaged in relation to vaccine certification policies, and we are committed to taking action on this issue, including reviewing guidance on additional vaccination for this group."
A spokesperson for Novavax said that it had sought urgent guidance from the NHS and Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which they are "actively considering."
It also said its volunteers had made a "vital contributing" and that it empathises with the challenges they are going through.
The spokesperson said: "Clinical trial participants made a vital contribution during an unprecedented global pandemic and we empathise with their challenges.
"In addition to working day and night to complete the submission process, Novavax is doing all we can to advocate on their behalf to support proof of vaccination outside of the UK."
The North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust did not comment.
--
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel