(WXYZ) — The first Michigan volunteers have stepped forward to receive an experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
Moderna has begun the third phase of its trial and Henry Ford Health System is one of 90 sites nationwide to take part in the study.
In the randomized double-blind study, participants will have a 50 percent chance of getting the vaccine via two separate shots that are 28 days apart. The other 40 percent will receive placebo shots that contain a sterile saline solution.
The study will last 25 months and will include roughly seven clinic visits and 24 phone calls. Those who complete the study will receive $1,000.
The vaccine cannot cause infection or disease because it does not contain any live or killed virus in it. However, there is no guarantee that participants won't get the virus at all. It's possible they could still get it from infected people, despite getting the vaccine.
Volunteers must meet the following criteria:
- Must be 18 or older
- Live or work in southeast Michigan
- Must be a healthy adult and free of illnesses
- Must not be pregnant or immune-compromised
- Must not have already have had COVID-19
The study would also really like to enroll:
- People who are at high risk of exposure due to work or other circumstances
- Seniors aged 65 and older
- Adults with "pre-existing medical conditions that are stable at the time of screening."
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
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