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The principal investigator of Blackpool's Novavax Covid-19 vaccine trials was concerned about trial drop-out rates as growing expectations of a jab before Christmas emerged.

Dr Rebecca Clark, GP and partner at Layton Medical Centre and principal investigator of the Novavax trials, said the trials held at her surgery and Blackpool Victoria Hospital were going well.

But she had concerns about the number of participants leaving the study before the final three weeks of screening, under false impressions that the Pfizer vaccine would be ready before Christmas.

Dr Clark wanted to encourage more people in the resort to sign up to the trials, in a bid to find a solution to the virus faster and protect more lives.

Some Novavax trial participants in Blackpool are dropping out early under the impression a Pfizer jab will be rolled out before Christmas, A Blackpool GP has said.

She said: "We’re a bit worried that volunteers are dropping off for our final three weeks of screening because they think the Pfizer vaccine is going to be approved before Christmas, which is really premature.

"We need more volunteers to come forward to help us hit the 650 extended target which will allow us to get the results of this trial sooner.

"The government has secured more doses of the Novavax vaccine than the Pfizer one."

Expectations of Pfizer Covid-19 jab before Christmas are 'premature,' says Blackpool GP