The Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital announced Monday that they are moving into the third phase of trials on Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine. After already determining that the vaccine triggers an appropriate immune response in test subjects, Yale researchers are now setting out to determine whether the vaccine can actually prevent COVID-19 infection.
According to a statement from Yale on Monday morning, this vaccine works differently than others currently being studied. The BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine uses bits of genetic code to trigger the body to produce its own proteins that resemble the coronavirus. The body then responds to those proteins by producing antibodies, which researchers hope will defend against coronavirus infection.
“The earlier trial phases have been very encouraging – showing that when injected, the vaccine is tolerated well and generates the appropriate immune response that has the potential to protect humans from COVID-19,” said Dr. Onyema E. Ogbuagu, a YNHH infectious disease physician and the study’s principal investigator.
For the trial’s third phase, researchers are recruiting 30,000 study participants. Half of the participants will receive the vaccine, while the other half will receive a placebo, according to the release. However, if the vaccine proves effective, all participants will be given the vaccine.
The researchers are also tapping into a local network to recruit participants of color for the study. Diverse participation will help the researchers ensure that the vaccine works for all people, not just a narrow sliver of the population.
The network is a partnership between the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, the Connecticut AME Zion Churches and Junta for Progressive Action.
“Our community has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” said Rev. Leroy Perry, pastor of St. Stephens AME Zion Church. “We will be working harder than ever to ensure that the underserved community has access to this clinical trial and when ready, the vaccine will be made affordable to those who are disproportionately affected.”
Yale’s vaccine trials, like the many other vaccine trials ongoing around the world, has moved forward much more quickly than standard clinical trials. Before COVID-19 vaccine research began, the release said, the most quickly developed vaccine was for the mumps. That vaccine took four years to develop.
For more information on Yale’s vaccine trial, visit www.yalestudies.org.
Emily Brindley can be reached at ebrindley@courant.com.