News Hub Creator 03/17/2020
The first human trials of a new vaccine scientists hope will protect against Covid-19 have been carried out.
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The US National Institutes of Health has joined with biotech firm Moderna to run the first trials of a vaccine for coronavirus on 45 people, who will receive a second jab in 28 days times
The US National Institutes of Health, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, has been working with biotech company Moderna to produce the preventative medication.
Yesterday, it was tested on humans for the first time, US health officials confirmed.
A 43-year-old mother-of-two was the first person to receive the vaccine.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the trials were an important first step.
The first stage of the trial will test the vaccine on 45 males and non-pregnant females between the ages of 18 and 55, with them receiving a second dose 28 days after the first.
The vaccine cannot cause Covid-19 - the disease triggered by the coronavirus but contains a harmless genetic code copied from the virus.
This is unlike typical vaccines for viruses, which are made from weakened or killed viruses.
It's been made to a very high standard, using things that we know are safe to use in people and those taking part in the trial will be very closely monitored.