A MAP created by the NHS has revealed how many volunteers for coronavirus vaccine studies there are in the Borders.

As at today's date (January 22), a total of 630 people in the region have put their name forward to be involved in COVID-19 vaccine studies.

The largest proportion of Borders volunteers are 40 to 59-year-olds (255), closely followed by the age range 60-79 (250).

The NHS Digital data – which is updated daily – shows that 115 people in the region aged 18-39 volunteered for the vaccine studies, with the final 10 volunteers aged 80 and over.

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Explaining the need for vaccine studies, an NHS spokesperson said: “Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases.

"They're designed so they do not give people the infection they're protecting against.

“Research into vaccines is the only way to find out which vaccines will work. Researchers need people to take part in their studies so they can find out which possible new vaccine works best.

“NHS Digital have been working with National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to provide a coronavirus vaccine studies volunteer sign up service which will provide a pool of volunteers across the United Kingdom.”

In Scotland, a total of 29,850 had signed up as at today's date.

The Dumfries and Galloway region has marginally more volunteers than the Borders in the latest statistics, with a total of 635 volunteers in our neighbouring region.

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The area with the most volunteers in Scotland is the City of Edinburgh region – which had 3,930.

According to the map, the local authority district of Na h-Eileanan Siar has the fewest volunteers (60).

You can sign up to give researchers your permission to be contacted about being involved in a vaccine study here.

Not everyone who signs up will be chosen to take part and if you are chosen, it is your choice whether you want to take part.

A volunteer can withdraw their permission to be contacted at any time.