To find out if they work, they need volunteers.
Carla Garcia is one of them.
Before any vaccine received government approval, Carla was one of the first in Southern California to volunteer to study the AstraZeneca – Oxford University vaccine.
“The reason it’s important for me to participate is that there’s not a lot of information that comes from clinical trials or otherwise about people of color,” she said.
COVID-19 disproportionately affects African Americans, Latinos and other ethnic groups. But polls show that vaccine hesitation is greatest in these groups.
“There has to be a certain commitment from the black population, the Latino population and other minority cultures in the process itself, so that we can get the same benefits from the results.”
The AstraZeneca approach is already used in pneumonia and shingles vaccines. The researchers modified a common cold virus to carry COVID-19 genetic material into the body. Early phase three studies show that the AstraZeneca vaccine was 90% effective in those who received a full dose and then a half dose a month later.
“Like a flu shot, there was arm pain the next day. It felt very similar to that.”
To vaccinate 70-80% of Americans, many other companies need to produce vaccines. Others in progress include Johnson and Johnson, Sanofi and Novavax.
“With everything that happens. It’s important for us to see where we can make an impact and where we can actually make a difference.”
As the number of cases and deaths increases, Carla – who works at a plasma donation center – worries about her health colleagues.
“It is a tragedy to see where we have come in terms of only the large number of sick people.”
Carla hopes her example will encourage more minorities to participate.
More information on vaccine studies is available from the US National Institutes of Health’s prevention network COVID-19.
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