The historic effort to get a vaccine for COVID-19 is coming to Oklahoma City.The Lynn Health Science Institute in Oklahoma City is looking for hundreds of people in the area to participate in a study of a possible vaccine. The company Moderna chose the institute to be the only place in Oklahoma to do this.“I would say it’s a big deal,” said Dr. Carl Griffin, with the Lynn Health Science Institute.Griffin told KOCO 5 that they’re now part of the massive study looking for 30,000 people across the country. It’s a two-year trial to make sure the vaccine works and is safe.But if early results are good, the idea is the vaccine could be ready for the public on an emergency basis by January.“I think a vaccine will be very important. We’ve heard some people talk about herd immunity,” Griffin said.Herd immunity is the idea that if roughly 60% to 70% of people get this virus, and have some level of immunity, that it’ll eventually stop spreading on its own.“If we think about 60% of 4 million people, that’s going to take a long time,” Griffin said. “So, this can last 20, 25 years if we do nothing at all. But with a vaccine, we’re able to shorten that time without exposing patients to the danger of the COVID-19 virus itself.”That’s because the vaccine contains no virus. The Lynn Health Science Institute is looking for healthy volunteers who are at least 18 years old.“We want people to think about being able to help others,” Griffin said. “Sometimes, clinical research allows us to help others by our participation. Even though some of these individuals may get the placebo, they end up still giving us a better view of how the actual vaccine works.”People who want to be involved should know half the participants will get the placebo and half will get the vaccine. People who currently have COVID-19 or have ever had it are not allowed to participate.Anyone who is interested is urged to call the Lynn Health Science Institute at 405-447-8839.
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The historic effort to get a vaccine for COVID-19 is coming to Oklahoma City.
The Lynn Health Science Institute in Oklahoma City is looking for hundreds of people in the area to participate in a study of a possible vaccine. The company Moderna chose the institute to be the only place in Oklahoma to do this.
“I would say it’s a big deal,” said Dr. Carl Griffin, with the Lynn Health Science Institute.
Griffin told KOCO 5 that they’re now part of the massive study looking for 30,000 people across the country. It’s a two-year trial to make sure the vaccine works and is safe.
But if early results are good, the idea is the vaccine could be ready for the public on an emergency basis by January.
“I think a vaccine will be very important. We’ve heard some people talk about herd immunity,” Griffin said.
Herd immunity is the idea that if roughly 60% to 70% of people get this virus, and have some level of immunity, that it’ll eventually stop spreading on its own.
“If we think about 60% of 4 million people, that’s going to take a long time,” Griffin said. “So, this can last 20, 25 years if we do nothing at all. But with a vaccine, we’re able to shorten that time without exposing patients to the danger of the COVID-19 virus itself.”
That’s because the vaccine contains no virus. The Lynn Health Science Institute is looking for healthy volunteers who are at least 18 years old.
“We want people to think about being able to help others,” Griffin said. “Sometimes, clinical research allows us to help others by our participation. Even though some of these individuals may get the placebo, they end up still giving us a better view of how the actual vaccine works.”
People who want to be involved should know half the participants will get the placebo and half will get the vaccine. People who currently have COVID-19 or have ever had it are not allowed to participate.
Anyone who is interested is urged to call the Lynn Health Science Institute at 405-447-8839.
