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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n“Realistically, we are all set up and ready to go,” he said. “Everything is essentially the same as the adults.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noravax, a Maryland-based biotechnological company, has created a COVID-19 vaccine that is entirely synthetic and designed with a unique protein cap to help it better penetrate into a person’s blood stream, according to Andersen. The vaccine also seeks to cause less unwanted side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There’s nothing infectious in it, so you cannot catch anything from it,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to Pfizer’s, the vaccine consist of a two-short series that requires an initial dose followed by a booster 21 days later. The study will use what’s called a 2:1 ratio, according to Anderson. In other words, there will be two volunteers who will receive the vaccine to everyone who gets a saline water injection as placebo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noravax is currently wrapping up adult clinical studies of its vaccine, which includes 146 volunteers in Lakeland. It is expected to release the study results and seek emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late April or early May, according to USA Today reports. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re so proud to have played a part in developing vaccines for COVID-19,\u201d said Lora Parahovnik, CEO of Accel Research Sites in a press statement. \u201cNow, we want to play a part in helping everyone get vaccinated. These pediatric trials will be essential in developing a safe vaccine for those under 18.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teens who take part must agree to be medically followed for two years after receiving the vaccine. Anderson said this will include follow-up medical visits and repeat blood tests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Everyone needs to know how long these vaccines last,” he said. “Without following up with specific testing, there’s no way to know.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Anderson said while there’s a lot of buzz about COVID antibodies, the rapid tests only reveal whether a person has them or not. It does not indicate what level of antibodies or protection a particular individual possesses, according to Anderson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Preliminary results from Novavax’s adult trials show that people who received the vaccine had 50 % more antibodies in their blood titer than people who survived a severe to moderate case of COVID-19, according to Andersen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One challenge facing the Accel Research study is recruiting teenage volunteers and obtaining medical consent. Any person age 12 to 17 who is interested must also have their parent or legal guardian\u2019s permission to take part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “if both parents are there, we need the approval of both parents,” Anderson aid. “We can’t have Dad say, ‘I want Johnny in’, if mom says ‘No’, then it\u2019s no.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n All participants will be asked to undergo a preliminary medical screening that takes approximately two to three hours to complete, according to Anderson. Those who previously had COVID-19 or are taking immune-suppressant drugs are not eligible to take part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n