Recently, researchers and scientists have been making extraordinary progress towards the creation of a COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, the vaccine has now reached the Phase 3 level of testing. People all over the world have lost loved one to the pandemic and it is important to establish a baseline of a healthy vaccine to slowly recover. With the large amounts of social distancing measures and safety guidelines that have been made to combat the virus, people have done well to adjust to the severity of it all. However, if this vaccine succeeds in phase 3, then we will be so much closer to the world having a better aspect of recovery.
What does Phase 3 Mean?
Every medicine, experimental drug or treatment for humans has to go through a step-by-step guideline to ensure safety. These are called the clinical trials. Here is a small explanation of how these phases work:
- Preclinical Trials – The experimental trial is not yet approved to be used on humans. However, there is an apparent value to the experiment.
- Phase 1 – The drug has been approved to be used on humans. This step is allowed for trials consisting of less than 100 participants.
- Phase 2 – If phase one shows value and evidence that the participants responded in a positive manner, phase two is approved. This experimental stage allows for human testing on a larger scale. 100 – 300 people will be allowed to be tested upon.
- Phase 3 – This phase is a make or break for the experimental drug. A larger group of people consisting of 1,000 – 3,000 will be studied and the results will be recorded. If positive effects are found on a larger basis, then the experimental drug will proceed to the final step.
- FDA Review – The FDA must perform their own clinical trials. This includes mixing the drugs while under different types of other pharmaceutical drugs. They have to determine the safety and effectiveness.
- Phase 4 – Once the FDA approves the drug, then it can be prescribed.
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