Hans Pennink / AP
Nurse Kathe Olmstead, right, gives volunteer Melissa Harting, of Harpersville, N.Y., an injection as the world’s biggest study of a possible COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc., gets underway Monday, July 27, 2020, in Binghamton, N.Y.
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 | 6 p.m.
Roughly 135 Las Vegas-area volunteers are participating in an experimental coronavirus vaccine study in late stages of development by Moderna, a pharmaceutical company testing upwards of 30,000 nationally with the pilot drug.
The vaccine — mRNA-1273 — is in the third phase of clinical trials to evaluate its effectiveness and safety. It’s designed to prevent COVID-19 for up to two years after the second dose.
Wake Research-Clinical Research Center of Nevada has injected 135 Las Vegas volunteers since July, according to investigator Dr. Michael Levin, who is leading the local trial.
The goal is to get 300-500 volunteers to participate in the study, which has had no serious side effects in any of the volunteers, Levin said.
“In terms of breakthrough and results, that’s going to take some time,” he said.
Las Vegas volunteers were picked for the study because the area was a hot spot for the virus, Levin said. There’s been more than 57,000 COVID-19 cases statewide.
Some volunteers in the study received a placebo; others were injected with the vaccine. Like most trials, the participants aren’t aware which injection they received.
Volunteers must participate in the study for two years with eight total visits, with unscheduled visits if symptoms are identified and testing is needed, Levin said. Volunteers are compensated for each visit.
Those interested in participating in the Las Vegas trials can apply at covidstudies.org or call 702-893-8968.
