Moderna's new £150million vaccine factory in Oxfordshire is nearly finished and about to start production.

The biotechnology company has invested "millions" in the plant which will create between 150 and 200 jobs across the factory and a research laboratory where millions of samples will stored and studied as part of clinical trials.

The US company produces next-generation mRNA vaccines and became famous for manufacturing Covid vaccines during the pandemic.

If successful, a world-first vaccine against norovirus which is about to enter the final stages of testing could be made at the new plant at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus with the UK first in line to get the jabs.

READ MORE: Plans to expand Oxfordshire school to meet growing demand

The jab uses mRNA technology to tell the immune system to recognise a “foreign” protein on viruses and mount an attack, in this case targeting three major strains of norovirus.

Experts believe it could stop people developing the vomiting and diarrhoea bug, which is linked to around 12,000 hospital admissions in the UK every year.

Dr Melanie Ivarsson, chief development officer at Moderna, said: “We are delighted to bring this trial to the UK – by advancing our investigational mRNA norovirus vaccine into a pivotal phase three trial, we are one step closer to potentially providing a new tool to prevent infection from this highly contagious virus, which places a significant burden on health systems globally.”

Overall, it is hoped 2,500 people in the UK will sign up for the trial before the end of December. Half will receive the vaccine while the other half get a dummy drug.

Everyone in the trial will be followed up for around 25 months, and experts hope the results will show 65 per cent or higher efficacy for the jab.

Moderna hopes to file marketing applications in 2026 to have the vaccine approved by health regulators.

READ MORE: Student fakes hammer attack after spotting Google Streetview car

The firm has a 10-year partnership with the UK government, which has committed to buy its vaccines for the next decade.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Norovirus is highly infectious and puts the NHS under huge strain every winter, costing taxpayers around £100 million a year.

“The UK is leading the way to develop a world-first vaccine for this vomiting bug, starting with this innovative vaccine trial delivered through the Government-funded National Institute for Health and Care Research.

“Not only is this a huge vote of confidence in the UK’s life sciences sector, but a successful vaccine will help shift our health system away from sickness and towards prevention – reducing pressure on the NHS and keeping people well during the colder months.”