Jacob Serrano had lost seven family members before he volunteered to take the trial dose of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University researchers. “Look at the amount of lives that we lost. And I just don’t want that to keep occurring,” he told CBS. Additionally, he explained he wanted to be a part of the solution to COVID-19, no matter the cost. Serrano also said, “I know there was a risk because it’s like — it’s a trial… But I’d rather have us one step closer, no matter what it takes.”
Vaccination Research
Oxford University sent out either the vaccine or a placebo to Serrano and his first dose was Friday, August 28, 2020. This is the third phase of the clinical trial. In which the vaccine is tested for safety and its effectiveness in blocking symptoms. After the third phase, the FDA would evaluate it for public use.
Dr. Larry Bush — the infectious disease expert and lead principal investigator at Headlands Jem Research Institute in Lake Worth, Florida — made a statement regarding the vaccine. He explained that the vaccine exhibited signs that, “not only do you get robust neutralizing antibodies to fight the coronavirus, you get a T-cell response…to fight off the cells that do become infected. That’s crucial in treating infections.”
The Oxford researchers have partnered with AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical giant and they plan to enroll 50,000 participants in the trial worldwide. The current plan is to have phase three trial results later in 2020. It seems there may be a Coronavirus vaccine soon, and hopefully, it will allow some peace of mind for those who are immunocompromised and those close to them.
Written by Joseph Nelson
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Source:
CBS News: Man who lost 7 relatives to COVID-19 becomes first American to trial Oxford vaccine
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