With more than 5 million cases across the United States, the need for a vaccine for COVID-19 is more important than ever. Several companies have already begun work on finding an effective and safe vaccine for the coronavirus, but research takes time and volunteers.
That's why officials with Vernon's health department has joined with USC's Keck School of Medicine to find volunteers for a new Phase 3 clinical trial to test an experimental vaccine for the coronavirus.
“The Vernon Health Department is proud to collaborate with Keck Medicine of USC on this critically important medical investigation that, if successful, could result in a safe and effective vaccine to provide immunity for hundreds of millions of Americans against the virus that causes COVID-19 which has taken the lives of nearly 170,000 men, women and children in the U.S. and more than 760,000 people worldwide,'' said Fredrick Agyin, director of the Vernon Health and Environmental Control Department.
“We look forward to working closely with Vernon's business community and leaders of organized labor to recruit the volunteers needed to participate in what could be a huge turning point in the public health battle against COVID-19.''
Keck Medicine of USC are seeking 500 volunteers who work at processing and industrial businesses in the city. The vaccine trial will operate out of two locations: Keck Hospital of USC in Boyle Heights and another satellite location in Vernon.
The vaccine trial will be testing the safety and effectiveness of AZD1222, produced by AstraZeneca, a Cambridge, UK-based pharmaceutical company. The trial is being funded by the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
More information can be found at www.cityofvernon.org/departments/health.