Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine trial has hit a snag after researchers failed to sign up enough people of color to ensure a diverse field for the clinical trial. As in, most of the 30-thousand people signed up are white.
That’s especially problematic as COVID-19 has hit African-American and Latino communities the hardest. Researchers say it is difficult to sign up Black Americans for trials because of years of under-representation and abuse. Moderna is one of a number of companies working on a vaccine. The company said it has stepped up its recruitment of people of color to include in the trial.
Meanwhile,the FDA is out with updated vaccine guidelineson its website. The White House had been fighting against them for weeks, but finally backed off. The guidelines tell vaccine makers to track volunteers for at least two months to rule out safety issues before seeking emergency approval. That means a vaccine will definitely not be ready before Election Day.
- Where do we stand with COVID-19?According to the latest numbers from Johns Hopkins, the United States has confirmed just over seven-point-five-million diagnosed cases across the United States since the beginning – with just over 210-thousand have succumbed to the illness. In good news? Nearly three -million people have recovered.
Source:NBC News