The study has been published in the leading New England Journal of Medicine. The fact that the potential vaccine appears to have positive effects for the elderly, a particularly vulnerable group, is an important finding, according to one of the researchers, because the immune systems of seniors are often weakened.
The trial followed a first safety trial in which the potential vaccine was tested on subjects between the ages of 18 and 55. In the follow-up trial, the vaccine was administered to 40 adults in the age groups 56 to 70 and 71 and older.
Phase 3 trial
Elderly people who received two doses of 100 micrograms 28 days apart showed an immune response similar to that of young adults. Moderna is already testing a higher dose in a phase 3 trial, which is the final phase before approval is sought.
Side effects, including headache, fatigue, body aches, chills and injection site pain, were experienced from mild to moderate. In at least two cases, subjects showed serious side effects.
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