Some pharmaceutical companies are well into the final phase of clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine. But efforts to recruit patients from minority groups are just beginning.
The company did not respond to requests for comment but is publicizingabout the clinical volunteers every week. They're somewhat better than the typical clinical trial but still not a good representation of the diversity of the U.
S. For the coronavirus vaccine in particular, the National Institutes of Health has suggested minorities should be over-represented in testing — perhaps at rates that are"We say we want to have everybody included, but really the effort for the vaccinations — in a sense — are starting the same way they've always been," says Dr. Dominic Mack of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He'sMack says there are no shortcuts if medical research is going to reflect the diversity of the U.S. It takes time to build trust and meaningful relationships with people who have endured a history of abuse or neglect by medical providers, and exclusion from biomedical research and decision making. "Now, that being said, the only thing we can do is what we're doing," he says — by which he means respectful, not rushed, outreach and dialogue., taps into four existing clinical trial networks that were designed to advance HIV research. Those networks are based in Seattle, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Durham, N.C.of the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in Nashville. It will involve seven"faith ambassadors" and 30"clergy consultants" in the African American community, who will work to help dispel myths and increase trust in the clinical trial process. But Sanders cautions this is not about a hard sell. He says it's not his job to preach trial participation from a pulpit. "We are not out beating the drum," he says, acknowledging that congregants may have legitimate concerns."I am not going to do anything more than make sure people are able to make an informed choice." There is a danger that lunging for big diversity goals could even spark a backlash, meaning minorities might be even less willing to participate, says professorIt's important that the doctors doing the asking look like the people they're appealing to, she says. "It's racial concordance," she explains."It offers this feeling of, 'you know who I am, you know where I come from, you have my best interests at heart.'" Dr. Rajbir Singh in one of the patient rooms at Meharry Medical College where volunteers will start receiving the Novavax coronavirus vaccine in October, as part of a phase three trial. Meharry, which is a historically Black medical school, wants to enroll more than 300 patients at this site and is planning special events to reach communities of color.Historically Black medical institutions in the U.S. are uniquely positioned to do this work. While they haven't been on the leading edge of the vaccine trial recruitment, they intend to play an important part., is, himself, an infectious disease researcher. But instead of overseeing the trial site being hosted on his campus, Hildreth has a more modest goal in mind: He plans to participate as a patient, and urge others to join him. "I think my role is more important in advocating for people to be involved in vaccine studies than to be one of the leaders of the study," he says. So at Meharry, Dr. Berthaud is the principal investigator. As lunch wraps up in the crowded conference room, he's managed to win over even the holdouts.Smith, with his young grandson in tow, didn't raise his hand at first when asked if he'd take the vaccine. But after listening to Dr. Berthaud, Smith agrees to participate in the clinical trial — for no other reason than the trust he has in Berthaud, his long-time physician.Convincing hundreds or thousands of Black Americans to sign up will be difficult. But even for those who don't participate, researchers hope their outreach efforts will at least result in more minorities ultimately agreeing to take the approved vaccine when it's available.
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