AdventHealth seeking thousands of volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine trial in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. — AdventHealth is working to make finding a COVID-19 vaccine a reality, right here in Central Florida.

They are looking for around 4,000 local volunteers to take part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial that, unlike the two-shot vaccine that will be distributed by Pfizer, is focused on a single injection.

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AdventHealth believes they’ll know if the vaccine is safe and effective in the first few months of next year.

If the vaccine works, AdventHealth expects the shot to be available in June.

As part of Operation Warp Speed, AdventHealth is looking for volunteers over the age of 18 and also people with underlying health conditions.

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Dr. Steven Smith, chief science officer for Advent Health said, “In other words, if you have diabetes, or are overweight, you have lung disease… these are high risk populations, and we would encourage them to participate as well.”

According to Dr. Smith, the only people that won’t qualify are children, pregnant women, those with immune system issues and anyone being treated for cancer.

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“Half will get the live vaccine, half will get a placebo. And that’s how we determine whether these actually work or not,” said Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith said this vaccine is different from others in the trial phase because the delivery method is more like a traditional flu shot: it’s only one shot instead of two. Also like the flu shot, Dr. Smith says you cannot get COVID-19 from this injection, it only produces immunity to protect from it.

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Despite the fact normal vaccine studies typically take about 10 to 15 years, Dr. Smith assures this trial is safe. “Are people working hard and fast? Absolutely. But no corners are being cut. And that’s from the inside, how you see how these trials actually work over time. The safety aspects are not being compromised at all,” said Dr. Smith.

Anyone who participates in the trial will be followed intensely by a doctor in the first several months and occasionally for up to two years.

Click here if you would like to sign up to take part in this trial.

Advent Health will also be a Florida hub for the vaccine from Pfizer that’s already shown to be safe and effective, which is expected to be ready before the end of the year.

Channel 9′s Lauren Seabrook spoke with a man as he left the trial on Friday. See more below:

VIDEO: Thousands volunteering for COVID-19 vaccine trials

Cox Media Group