COVID-19 Vaccine Testing Begins In Oklahoma

Oklahomans are among the first in the United States to participate in COVID-19 vaccine trials due to the state’s high COVID-19 positivity rate, according to researchers.

This week, Tekton Research in Yukon began offering one of three federally backed vaccine trials currently in large scale testing.

“I think this will be historical in nature,” Principal Investigator Kyle Rickner said. “Our kids will read about this down the road.”

According to CBS News, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer all have vaccines in phase 3 testing. They are part of the Trump Administration’s Operation Warp Speed, with a goal of delivering 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by January.

“The two main accomplishments in a study like this is that one, you want to establish efficacy. Does it work? Is it preventing the disease? And two, is it safe?” Rickner said.

Two out of three participants in the Yukon trial receive the vaccine. The other gets a placebo.

Before getting the shot, volunteers first take a physical, blood test, nasal adsorption test and a COVID-19 test.

“We are one of eight sites in the whole U.S. to kick off in this time and it was chosen mostly because we were considered a hotspot,” Rickner said.

This week, the White House Coronavirus Task Force said Oklahoma has the 9th highest positivity rate in the country.

Researchers say they’re looking for people are more likely to be exposed to the virus like healthcare workers, first responders, factory and warehouse workers, retail and service workers and cashiers.

“The follow up to this will be over a two-year period of time, it’s going to be roughly 7 to 9 visits over two years and some of those are actually going to be over the phone checking on patients,” Rickner said.

Participants receive $100 per in person visit.   

“We’re all kind of living in this COVID reality that none of us really like,” Rickner said. “To me, the only thing that I see bring this to a close is a vaccine.”