The first vaccine to fight COVID-19 is set to begin final testing.
The experimental vaccine, developed by Dr. Anthony Fauci’s colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and Moderna, has shown strong relief on people’s immune systems in its testing phases so far. Therefore, the vaccine will take part in a 30,000-person study later this month to prove if it can protect people against the coronavirus, which has already infected more than 3 million and killed almost 140,000 in the United States.
“No matter how you slice this, this is good news,” Fauci told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
The vaccine requires two doses to be taken a month apart. Study participants who took part in the initial phases of measuring the vaccine found no serious side effects, but more than half reported flu-like reactions to the shots similar to other vaccines. The side effects included fatigue, headaches, chills, fever, and pain at the injection site.
Vaccines for COVID-19 are in various stages of testing around the world, with U.S. officials hoping to develop one by the end of the year. The 30,000-person study will mark the largest study for a potential vaccine so far.
Fauci said he is cheering for all of the tests to be successful globally, disputing the notion that it is a race for one winner.
“We need multiple vaccines,” Fauci said. “We need vaccines for the world, not only for our own country.”
