Science Mag is concerned early approval of a COVID-19 vaccine could deter us from finding a really good one. It says this could be the case even if the first one across the line is only marginally effective. Science Mag writer Jong Cohen warns this may put better vaccines at the tipping point. That’s because it could be unethical to continue testing them, even if they are looking promising.
Best Vaccine May Be at the Tipping Point Without Placebo Proof
Folk taking medication may sometimes heal because they expect to, not on account of their medication. Therefore, it has become customary to administer ‘dummy drugs’ to a portion of subjects in trials to counter this factor. Science Mag writer Jong Cohen asks whether this practice would be ethical if one vaccine were already approved.
It’s a very vexing issue,’ says Christine Grady, head of bioethics at the Clinical Center of the U.S. National Institute of Health. That’s because a better vaccine may be at the tipping point in terms of trials continuing. Would it be right to administer a neutral substance to people believing they have a chance of receiving the right thing? What would happen if they received the placebo, contracted the disease outside the trial, and then died?
What’s Really Important Is the Science Must Continue
So says Seth Berkley, CEO of GAVI Alliance promoting a wide portfolio of COVID vaccines. We need multiple ones suitable for poor countries, and specific groups like pregnant women and the elderly, he believes. Therefore, we should not stop trials prematurely, or rush early approval of the first vaccine without careful consideration.
There are 42 candidate vaccines in clinical trials, according to World Health Organization. Of these, 10 are already at Phase 3 stage. Should we administer the first successful vaccine as placebo at these? What will happen if participants at those trials drop out, and we lose the opportunity of finding a better vaccine?
Related
Oxford COVID-19 Trials Enter Stage 3
AstraZeneca Trials Are Continuing in UK
Preview Image: Using a Placebo
