As one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, NoV is associated with a substantial healthcare burden.

The new mRNA vaccine from Moderna will enter final stages of testing within the next two weeks, with results so far showing it creates a “strong immune response”.

The jab uses mRNA technology to tell the immune system to recognise a ‘foreign’ protein on viruses and mount an attack.

A vaccine to protect against the winter vomiting bug norovirus is set for a year-long trial by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) after early results showed it creates a “strong immune response.” The Moderna-funded research project plans to work alongside the NHS organizations to recruit members of the public to test the new vaccine over the next year.

Wes Streeting said the virus places the health service under 'huge strain' every winter and costs taxpayers around £100million a year.