Johnson & Johnson needs volunteers aged 60+ to take part in COVID-19 vaccine trials

Photo: EFE

09:00 | Lima, Nov. 26.

Jorge Gallardo —principal researcher of the Ensemble trial developed at San Marcos University's Research Center— stressed the importance of continuing clinical trials to seek new alternatives to a COVID-19 vaccine since each of them has its own specific characteristics that may facilitate the implementation of an immunization system.

Gallardo recalled that the registration process to participate as volunteers in Johnson & Johnson's Phase 3 clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine began in the first half of November and is expected to recruit 3,500 participants.

In statements to Andina news agency, he said that the distinctive feature of this vaccine is that it is designed to be administered in a single dose.

Besides, with not so strict storage, conservation, and distribution requirements, the vaccine can be kept at minus 20 degrees Celsius —compared to other vaccine candidates that need to be kept at minus 70 degrees, which could have a large impact on supply chains, especially in developing countries.

Gallardo stressed the importance for governments to have alternatives at hand in order to implement immunization systems using products with proven efficacy and safety.

He pointed out that the Phase 3 clinical trial implemented by Johnson & Johnson constitutes a multinational study conducted in more than 180 research centers in several countries, including Peru.

This trial seeks to recruit some 60,000 volunteers, of whom around 3,500 will be Peruvian citizens.

In the case of Peru, the trial will be conducted at 10 centers, five of which belong to the COVID-19 Prevention Network. This is an international research network aimed at conducting Phase 3 trials to assess vaccine candidates from various sponsors.

(END) DOP/KGR/RMB/MVB

Publicado: 25/11/2020