In the race to find a vaccine for the coronavirus, a DeLand lab has been selected as a site for a clinical research trial. Accel Clinical Research has been chosen by the Biotech company Moderna to oversee trials of a COVID-19 vaccine.”We’ve been absolutely ecstatic about it,” said Dr. Bruce Rankin, the lab’s medical director. Rankin said they have lots of experience doing clinical trials and successfully tested a vaccine for the swine flu 11 years ago.For the coronavirus vaccine trial, they are looking for 2,500 participants between 18 and 85 years of age. They would prefer people on the front lines of potential exposure such as health care, grocery store or even theme park workers. He said the participants get the satisfaction of helping others.”That’s the big motivation, to come out and help promote medical science. A lot of things, you go down to your pharmacy, it’s stuff we’ve worked on and shown it to be safe and effective,” Rankin said. Rankin said participants will be followed for 24 months and receive a stipend for their time, usually around $700 to $1,000. Once they’re accepted, they’ll get the trial vaccine, which Rankin said he’ll have in about a week.”We need to make sure it’s safe, that’s always the first thing. Is it something we can give to a millions of people and number two if we’re giving it to them we got to make sure it’s working and it’s effective,” Rankin said. Rankin said a vaccine could be ready for the masses by early next year. People interested in participating can sign up here.
DELAND, Fla. —
In the race to find a vaccine for the coronavirus, a DeLand lab has been selected as a site for a clinical research trial.
Accel Clinical Research has been chosen by the Biotech company Moderna to oversee trials of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“We’ve been absolutely ecstatic about it,” said Dr. Bruce Rankin, the lab’s medical director.
Rankin said they have lots of experience doing clinical trials and successfully tested a vaccine for the swine flu 11 years ago.
For the coronavirus vaccine trial, they are looking for 2,500 participants between 18 and 85 years of age.
They would prefer people on the front lines of potential exposure such as health care, grocery store or even theme park workers.
He said the participants get the satisfaction of helping others.
“That’s the big motivation, to come out and help promote medical science. A lot of things, you go down to your pharmacy, it’s stuff we’ve worked on and shown it to be safe and effective,” Rankin said.
Rankin said participants will be followed for 24 months and receive a stipend for their time, usually around $700 to $1,000.
Once they’re accepted, they’ll get the trial vaccine, which Rankin said he’ll have in about a week.
“We need to make sure it’s safe, that’s always the first thing. Is it something we can give to a millions of people and number two if we’re giving it to them we got to make sure it’s working and it’s effective,” Rankin said.
Rankin said a vaccine could be ready for the masses by early next year.
