COVID19 Update - Day 176

US Tests: 79,092,266*

US Cases: 6,072,291*

US Deaths: 177,645*

Worldwide Cases: 25,934,466*

Worldwide Deaths: 861,512*

* - Numbers are a lower bound.  True numbers are being suppressed by the Trump administration

Minnesota is taking part in a COVID19 vaccine trial.  Specifically, the health care company I work for is partnering with AstraZeneca to test their vaccine:

HealthPartners is seeking to complete recruitment in eight weeks, largely through its website — with priority going to participants such as waiters who work in higher-risk, higher-contact professions. The trial also is targeting a quarter of its enrollment for people 65 and older and minorities — two demographic groups that have shown higher rates of COVID-19 complications and deaths.

AstraZeneca’s goal is to have initial safety and effectiveness results by the end of the year or early 2021.

The accelerated pace of vaccine development, with financial support from the federal Operation Warp Speed program, has health officials hopeful of enough positive trial data to offer a COVID-19 vaccine within months — perhaps with an emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rather than full approval.

However, health officials warned that such decisions must be made free of political influence — or the appearance of such influence that could undermine public confidence.

Here are a few more details which are not mentioned in the Star-Tribune article:

• HealthPartners will work to enroll at least 1,500 people.
• This is a randomized placebo controlled, double-blind study, the most rigorous approach to testing vaccines and other drugs.
• To participate in the study, people need to be 18 years of age or older. Researchers are particularly interested in enrolling those who have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, such as health care workers, first-responders, and food service workers. We will also enroll people who work in other close contact professions, like grocery and meat-packing industries.
• HealthPartners researchers will recruit people who have stable health conditions that make them more likely to develop severe forms of COVID-19, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and other heart-related conditions.
• Within the eligibility criteria, there will be an emphasis on enrolling people of color. Emerging data shows that Black and Latino communities are experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 infections and poorer outcomes. In our local community, Hmong, Somali and Native American communities have been significantly affected.  These disparities are a reminder that the latest research must support our vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Obviously, this is a hopeful step.  Fingers crossed.