NIH Provides Updates on Covid-19 Vaccine

From l, NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci, Operation Warp Speed vaccine lead Dr. Matt Hepburn and NIH director Dr. Francis Collins

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Fauci wearing headset sits in front of computer screen

NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

African-American woman in headset seated in front of computer screen

Robyn, a participant in the phase 1 vaccine trial

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Collins wearing headset sits in front of computer screen

NIH director Dr. Francis Collins

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

NIH and the biotechnology company Moderna, Inc., provided an update on mRNA-1273, an investigational Covid-19 vaccine, on the morning of July 27. That afternoon, NIH leadership participated in a social media telebriefing on the vaccine, which has now entered phase 3 testing.

On hand for the morning session were NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci, Operation Warp Speed vaccine lead Dr. Matt Hepburn, and NIH director Dr. Francis Collins. The trial, which will be conducted at U.S. clinical research sites, is expected to enroll approximately 30,000 adult volunteers who do not have Covid-19.

Participants in the afternoon session—streamed live on Facebook and conducted at social distance—included Collins, Fauci and Moderna president Dr. Stephen Hoge. They were joined by special guest Robyn, a participant in the phase 1 vaccine trial. She helped potential volunteers understand the clinical trials process.