According to government officials, the first participant to receive a possible vaccine for the coronavirus will take place on Monday, March 16. The trial will be funded by the National Institutes of Health and will be completed anonymously.
Public health officials say it can take up to nearly two years to fully validate a potential vaccine. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci says, “The answer to containing is public health measures. We can’t rely on a vaccine over the next several months to a year.”
The trial will begin by testing 45 young and healthy participants with various dosages of the vaccine. There’s apparently no way the members will get tainted from the shots, which don’t contain the infection itself. Trials will ideally assist researchers with watching any potential symptoms and prepare for bigger tests. Researchers have also developed a temporary vaccine that will help secure the health of the individual while a permanent vaccine is being made.
President Trump has been adamant about the need for a vaccine. He assures the public that the work to create the vaccine has been “moving along very quickly.”
Currently, the United States has confirmed 2,900 cases of the virus. Nearly 60 US residents have died from the virus. Symptoms for the virus include fever, coughing, runny nose, and disruptive breathing patterns. For some, the coronavirus can lead to more severe illnesses, such as pneumonia. Government officials encourage Americans to practice staying out of large groups, get in the habit of not touching your face, and to continuously wash your hands.
