How, and when, will we know that a COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective?
How, and when, will we know that a COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective?
Dr. William Petri, the Wade Hampton Frost Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Virginia Department of Medicine, spoke to Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge residents recently about the care and treatment of people with COVID-19.
Now, he’s written an article about future COVID-19 vaccines. The article first appeared in The Conversation and was then published by UVA Today.
Dr. Petri breaks down the several Phase 3 studies that are currently under way, how the vaccines work, side effects observed, and most importantly—how we’ll know a vaccine is safe.
Dr. Petri covers:
- The status of COVID-19 vaccines in human clinical trials
- Animal tests show the vaccines provides protection from coronavirus infection
- What the early Phase 1 and 2 studies in humans have shown
- Side effects that have been observed
- How the FDA is ensuring that a vaccine will be safe yet quickly produced
- How protective does a vaccine need to be to receive FDA approval
- How many people need to be vaccinated to know if a vaccine works in Phase 3
- Emergency use authorization for fast-tracking vaccines
- What to expect in terms of approvals
He mentions it may not be life back to normal next year, but all signs point to a healthier 2021.
