30,000 volunteer for COVID-19 vaccine trials

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Around 30,000 people in the U.S. have volunteered to participate in two major COVID-19 vaccine trials, according to health officials.
• The enrollment meets half of the target goal of 60,000 participants needed by Moderna and Pfizer’s phase 3 trials.
• Vaccine manufacturer, AstraZeneca, together with the University of Oxford, has also started its phase 3 trials on its COVID-19 vaccine.

Officials said on Friday that over 30,000 volunteers have so far enrolled in two major Coronavirus vaccine trials in the U.S. That number is about half of the goal in developing a safe and effective vaccine by the end of the year. 

In a phone call with reporters, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deputy chief of staff for policy Paul Mango said, “We feel we’re absolutely on track, if not a little bit ahead” of their target of mass-producing millions of doses to meet the anticipated demand.

He also anticipated that more vaccines will begin larger trials maybe by next month. 

The enrollment covers half of the total goal of 60,000 volunteers needed for the phase 3 trials by the two vaccine manufacturers, Moderna and Pfizer.  AstraZeneca, in partnership with the UK’s University of Oxford, with study sites in the U.S., has also initiated its phase 3 on its COVID-19 vaccine.

Still, Mango stressed that  “there are no guarantees in science” adding the possibility that the vaccines being tested may not be always effective. 

Even while President Donald Trump had pledged that a vaccine will be produced by the end of the year or sooner in his speech during Thursday’s Republican National Convention, Mango said the research would still continue even if Trump loses re-election. 

“The vast majority of folks who are working on Operation Warp Speed are not political appointees to the Trump administration,” Mango added.

The phase 3 trials should also help answer questions such as those from infectious diseases expert Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, Minnesota, who said that one vaccine may not be suited for certain groups like young children and the elderly.  He also said that pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems may react differently to the vaccine. 

According to Mango, health experts feel “very good” about the diversity of the people who enrolled. Besides Hispanic and African-American participation, Mango said a vast number of people over 65 along with folks with various chronic issues signed up for the trials. 

The tests will involve half of the volunteers receiving the vaccine while the other half gets a placebo. Whoever gets either will remain unknown to the researchers and participants.  

In the meantime, Poland reminded people that they can still be protected against the virus by continuing to follow protection measures such as wearing a mask, physical distancing and frequently sanitizing the hands.

Source: AOL