The Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) has launched a clinical trial at Recruit Training Command (RTC) to evaluate the effectiveness of the first norovirus vaccine in reducing outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent norovirus, a highly contagious disease which causes vomiting and diarrhea and can infect anyone who comes into contact with the pathogen. Once informed consent has been obtained and study volunteers are vaccinated, they will have three brief follow-up visits during basic training to determine how their immune system is responding to the norovirus vaccine. The vaccine trial will last up to one year with results contributing to the assessment of vaccine effectiveness for widespread use among other U.S. military populations and civilians.
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