Pfizer Expanding COVID-19 Vaccine Trials – Vaccine Ready by end of 2020

For the battle against COVID-19, pharmaceutical companies across the globe are racing to get vaccines through clinical trials. Today, Pfizer announced that they are expanding their current clinical trial with a COVID-19 vaccine.

There are concerns that drug companies are being politically pressured to rush vaccines. Because of this political pressure, there is also concern that many people will not trust the vaccines.

Pfizer, however, was one not one of the many pharmaceutical companies that accepted government funding.

Spending billions of it own money on a vaccine, scientists at Pfizer are free from government pressure or meddling with their research and development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, Pfizer has 30,000 participants in its Phase 3 clinical trials of a vaccine for COVID-19.

Today, the company announced that it has asked the FDA for approval to add another 14,000 people to the clinical trial.

According to Pfizer, the expansion of the trial is aimed at targeting specific groups to improve the diversity of the trial.

The current 30,000 participants already include a diverse mix of ethnicity. However, the expansion is focused on adding more age groups and health diversity.

The current study did not include anyone under the age of 18. As such, the expansion group will add an age group from ages 16-18.

Also, in the expansion, will be individuals with chronic, stable HIV (human immunodeficiency viruses), Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B infection.

On CBS ‘Meet the Press’ this morning, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla talked about the current trial and the expansion. Bourla said that he believes that a vaccine could be ready by the end of the year.

When asked, he said that it will ultimately be up to the FDA to approve the vaccine for the public.

However, Bourla said that he believes that their trials will be complete in time, and if approved, Pfizer will be ready and able to begin distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Susan Bishop

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In addition to enjoying writing about health related news, Susan plays a key role in managing and developing our ever growing relationships with our freelance writers from around the world.

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