ACROSS Dorset, 3,500 people have come forward to volunteer for the coronavirus vaccination trials.

So far, 241 of those have been injected with either the vaccine or the placebo at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, the University Hospitals Dorset Trust (UHD) confirmed.

A spokesperson for UHD said: "We're keen for more to join the national database for this and other trials in the future.

"We’re especially looking for people in more high risk groups, so those in the BAME community, over 65s and people with stable long term conditions."

Of the 241 people injected is 19-year-old Bournemouth man James Horn who had his injection on Wednesday October 21.

James said: “The appointment was about observations to see if I was eligible for the trials.

“They checked my jabs and took swabs to see if I had the coronavirus antibody already.

"After that you get to see about five or six different people, clinicians, doctors, the trial supervisor and they sign different sheets confirming you have done this and that.

“I have to go back in three weeks to have a second jab. They ask you to look away (for the first jab) so you can’t see if it is the coronavirus or salt water, a placebo. The only person who knows what it is is the doctor.”

After immunisation, volunteers will be regularly monitored over the next 12 months to understand the longevity of the immune response and the degree of protection given.

James continued: “I just wanted to help everyone. I thought I am young, healthy, I thought I could be one of those people who help get a vaccine quicker.

“I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if I would be staying overnight and they said I would have to self-isolate if I show symptoms.

“They have provided me a thermometer and three home test kits in case symptoms start to develop over the coming weeks.”

The 19-year-old said there were “a few” others at the trials but everyone was socially distanced and went in one at a time.

James, who has lived in Bournemouth for approximately eight months, encouraged others to volunteer for the trials.

He said: “I would say go for it because, at the end of the day, we are helping out and helping to get a vaccine for Covid-19.

“Over the past year the pandemic has affected my mental health, it has damaged everyone.

“It is hard, there are so many rules and you don’t know what rule is what.

“I'm doing this for everyone so we can get a vaccine quicker and send it worldwide to help thousands of people.”