Atlanta

Clinical studies looking for essential, healthcare workers to participate in COVID-19 vaccine trials

ATLANTA — Experts say the coronavirus outbreak will not be under control until we have a vaccine.

Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge spoke with an employee of Piedmont Healthcare who is very excited to play a part in finding a vaccine.

“I’m not on the frontlines. I’m not doing patient care, but I’ve seen the stress that frontline workers have gone through and I wanted to do something to be part of the solution,” said Kate Booker, who jumped at the chance to be part of a Pfizer vaccine trial underway here in metro Atlanta.

Kate got her trial injection last month.

“The first seven days I keep a daily diary where I keep my temperature, any redness, soreness at the injection site,” Booker said.

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Clinical Research Atlanta is part of the trials involving Pfizer and Moderna. In September they'll begin testing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine.

They are recruiting essential workers, people at high health risk of getting coronavirus and healthcare workers.

Researchers say they are trying to get more minorities to volunteer.

Karen Hickson with Clinical Research Atlanta said participation among African Americans in studies is usually about 15% to 20%, but with coronavirus vaccines it's closer to 8%.

“There’s something about this vaccine and it’s happening nationwide. That there’s a lack of … I don’t know if it is trust, if it is fear, but the numbers are, well, down,” Hickson said.

Booker told Sbarge she does not know whether she got the real vaccine or the placebo.