Biotech Giant Moderna Launches Trial Of COVID-19 Vaccine Featuring 30,000 Volunteers

Moderna has now launched the largest COVID-19 vaccination trial on earth, featuring 30,000 volunteers, to find out whether or not the vaccine they are working to develop is effective in preventing folks from catching the coronavirus and whether or not it will be safe for the general population, should they decide to take it.

And that’s an important part of this whole thing, folks. The choice to take the vaccine or not. Let’s hope that individuals within the government do not attempt to use this as an excuse to push for mandatory vaccination against the will of the people. Individuals should be allowed to decide for themselves.

Here’s more from The Washington Examiner:

“We are pleased to have started the Phase 3 COVE study,” said Stephane Bancel, the company’s CEO. “We look forward to this trial demonstrating the potential of our vaccine to prevent COVID-19, so that we can defeat this pandemic.”

Moderna will enroll about 30,000 people across 89 sites to test shots developed in part by the National Institutes of Health. In the Phase 3 study, called the COVE, or Coronavirus Efficacy, half of all participants will receive two shots of the vaccine candidate 28 days apart, and the other half will receive two shots of a placebo. Testing will also aim to determine if the shots of the vaccine can protect from severe infections of COVID-19 and death.

Researchers will monitor volunteers for side effects after the doses are administered, as well as for signs that the vaccine protects them from getting COVID-19. Preliminary testing results from Moderna found that volunteers experienced only minor side effects, such as fatigue and fever. While several vaccine candidates in addition to Moderna’s have been shown to induce immune responses, none have been shown to protect against the coronavirus disease.

The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the world and not just in the form of tragic deaths. Many countries, including the United States endured massive economic hardship as a result of lockdowns done in an effort to slow the spread of the illness.

Our nation definitely cannot handle another shut down, but at the same time, we do not want our freedom to choose what to put inside our bodies restrained either. This is a tough situation.