Vaccine trial participants who received placebo now hop the line for the real thing from Pfizer, Moderna Judy Peres, Chicago Tribune
Good news for tens of thousands of volunteers in the COVID-19 vaccine trials: Many of those who received a placebo are now being offered a vaccine in some cases, earlier than they would otherwise have been eligible.
Participants in Pfizer’s vaccine study some of whom had mounted a noisy campaign on social media have been advised that anyone who wants one can receive the first of two shots by March 1. Participants in Moderna’s vaccine trial are already getting immunized.
SEATTLE — Three COVID-19 infections diagnosed in Washington in October were caused by a virus with a mutation that might boost the respiratory bug’s ability to dodge immune defenses.
Health officials also worry that if the virus changes enough, people might get COVID-19 a second time.
Jan 19, 2021 15:25:19 IST
The race against the virus that causes COVID-19 has taken a new turn: Mutations are rapidly popping up, and the longer it takes to vaccinate people, the more likely it is that a variant that can elude current tests, treatments and vaccines could emerge.
The coronavirus is becoming more genetically diverse, and health officials say the high rate of new cases is the main reason. Each new infection gives the virus a chance to mutate as it makes copies of itself, threatening to undo the progress made so far to control the pandemic.