May 21, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The University of Tennessee Medical Center is part of a big government effort to have a H1N1 vaccine ready for the world by the end of the year. We have details about a clinical trial the hospital is doing that you can participate in.
With more than 400 H1N1 deaths worldwide, companies are working around the clock to create a vaccine. UT Medical Center is one of a dozen sites which are part of the phase two study of the vaccine. The hospital is working with Sanofi Pasteur to test three different doses.
"It's a step in the development of the vaccine," says Dr. Bill Smith the Director of the Volunteer Research Group at UT Medical Center.
A high dose, intermediate dose, a low dose and a placebo will be given to volunteers. There is no difference in the amount of the injection, just a difference in concentration.
"The reason this important is if the low dose works and we get the antibody response we're looking for than they can use a much lower dose in the subsequent studies which will allow the amount of vaccine they can make to cover a lot more individuals than if we have to use a higher dose," says Dr. Smith.
In early August, 200 volunteers like Barbara Munsey will receive one of the doses. "I feel like if I'm going to have my son get it, or if it might become required, I'd like to say that I did it first."
Barbara works in the clinical trials cancer division at UT and says she knows how important it is to get information for studies. "We know that we can never get these studies done then we can't get our medications to the public if we don't have people participating in clinical trials."
Dr. Smith says side effects of the vaccine should be the same as the seasonal flu. "This is a way that someone could receive potentially the vaccine earlier, before it's commercially available."
If you want to participate in the clinical trial of the H1N1 vaccination, call UT Medical Center at 305-9356. You will be paid $100 to volunteer. Researchers are asking older people especially to participate because they are in a high risk group.
