Researchers in Houston are looking for volunteers to try out a new coronavirus vaccine.
Houston Fights Covid has been recruiting volunteers for covid vaccine testing since the end of last summer. Sarah Hassan with DM Clinical research and the Texas Center for Drug Development says we are used to the mRNA vaccines. The new vaccine candidate, developed by Medicago, is now in Phase 3 testing. It's plant based and in this case a protein is extracted from a distant cousin of the tobacco plant. Of course, there's no nicotine involved. Hassan says "We're possibly to produce this vaccine even faster than we were with the mRNA vaccine. That protein is made synthetically in the lab and it takes longer. This one we're able to mass produce it even faster."
She says the shot shows immense promise, especially against covid variants. "What we're hoping is that not only is it as effective as the vaccines we have out on the market, but it's actually more effective. That's what we're always trying to get to."
She says this is an exciting development. "This gives us a chance to be able to provide an alternative to those who haven't gotten the vaccine yet, and also for people who prefer the natural plant-based method as opposed to the mRNA vaccines."
She says these vaccines could be easily stored in a refrigerator. Hassan says there's enough vaccine perhaps in the US, but not enough for the world. She says the only way we can get back to our normal lives is to get to herd herd immunity. "But you can't get to herd immunity unless you have multiple vaccines out. It's our job multiple vaccines out with multiple pharmaceutical companies by different manufacturing methods so we're able to distribute the right amount. Right now it's really about supply and distribution and it's really not enough."
Volunteers will be compensated.
If you are interested, go to Houstonfightscovid.com
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