In March, a volunteer for a COVID-19 vaccine trial obtained the primary dose of the vaccine on the Kaiser Permanente Washington Well being Analysis Institute (KPWHRI) in Seattle. Interim outcomes of the section 1 trial have been revealed final week by the New England Journal of Drugs, and so they’re promising, says Lisa A. Jackson, MD, MPH. She’s a senior researcher at KPWHRI and the lead creator of the examine.
The revealed report particulars what occurred to a check group of 45 volunteers who every obtained 2 doses of both 25, 100, or 250 micrograms of the vaccine. In every of those volunteers, who’re ages 18 to 55, the vaccine produced a wholesome immune response. In April, the trial was expanded to incorporate adults older than 55 years, however the revealed outcomes solely cowl the 18- to 55-year age group.
The outcomes additionally point out that those that obtained the vaccine candidate had no critical negative effects. About half of the volunteers did report signs of fatigue, headache, chills, muscle aches, or ache on the injection web site. Signs have been extra widespread after the second vaccination and with the very best vaccine dose.
“The world urgently wants vaccines to guard in opposition to COVID-19,” Dr. Jackson says. “We’re glad to have the ability to contribute to those efforts by initiating the primary medical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed, produced, and put right into a first-in-human medical trial in report time.”
The trial is supported by the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illnesses (NIAID), a part of the Nationwide Institutes of Well being. The vaccine is being co-developed by researchers at NIAID and Moderna, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Whereas the early outcomes are promising, extra testing is required earlier than figuring out whether or not this vaccine will work. “Subsequent, we’d like bigger trials to indicate if the vaccine can shield folks from COVID-19,” says Dr. Jackson.
If you’re excited about taking part as a volunteer in a future vaccine trial, KPWHRI has a registry that Seattle-area residents can be part of to be thought-about for the trial. For those who dwell exterior the Seattle space, you’ll be able to be part of a nationwide registry.
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