Covid 19 Vaccine Trial - USA Research Updates

What are the COVID-19 Trial studies? The COVID-19 studies are clinical research studies that have been designed to learn more about potential new vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19. Vaccinations for other diseases have saved millions of lives in the past and we are looking for ways to save lives in the future. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. The COVID-19 pandemic now affects many countries around the world. Currently, no vaccines have been approved or licensed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from infecting people. These trials, which are testing potential new vaccines, are looking for volunteers who are interested in helping to find new ways to prevent COVID-19. The studies are looking at how safe the potential new vaccines are and how well they work. The overall goal for these types of studies is to find a vaccine that can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from infecting people and causing COVID-19. What to expect If you qualify and decide you’d like to take part in one of the studies, the length of the study and the assessments will vary. You will be looked after by a dedicated study team who will be able to answer your questions throughout the study. You will have some appointments with the study doctor or clinical research staff for tests and assessments. Appointments might be at your home, at a study center, via telephone, or online. Several tests and assessments will take place to monitor your health. These will include: Questionnaires about your general health and how you are feeling Physical examinations Measurement of vital signs (such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature) A COVID-19 test for some participants The study vaccine If you take part in a COVID-19 study, you will be randomly assigned to receive either the investigational vaccine or a placebo. A placebo looks like the investigational vaccine but contains no active ingredients. The investigational vaccine or placebo will be administered as an injection (a shot) into a muscle in your arm. Vaccines are designed to prevent a disease by working with the body’s immune system to build natural defenses to the invading virus or germ. Vaccines can prevent people from getting a disease.