Phase 3 Vaccine Trial for COVID-19 Seeking Participants in Nebraska

Nebraskans can now sign up for a Phase 3 trial of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine is made by Moderna and the trial will include 30,000 patients worldwide. In Nebraska, participants who are over 65, with underlying medical conditions, or essential workers, are needed for the trial in Grand Island, Norfolk, and Omaha.

Phase 3 is the final trial before a vaccine is approved by the FDA. The vaccine has been shown to be safe for human use and vaccines in a Phase 3 trial have usually shown some effectiveness in preventing COVID-19.

Some patients will receive a vaccine and others will receive a placebo. The trial will last two years and patients will be compensated for their time and travel. The vaccine will be judged based on how many patients who received the vaccine or placebo contract COVID-19.

Beau Garland is vice president of recruitment for Meridian, the company running the trial.

“This one obviously is a game-changer. None of us have ever seen anything like this before," Garland said. "It’s crippling our country and the world so we need to get a vaccine as soon as possible. So the sooner those 30,000 patients get vaccinated, the sooner we can start looking at data to see if it’s going to work and we can get a vaccine out to the public.”

Garland said about 1,000 people are needed per site in Nebraska.