RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Why continuing uncertainties are no reason to postpone challenge trials for coronavirus vaccines
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 808
OP 812
DO 10.1136/medethics-2020-106501
VO 46
IS 12
A1 Steel, Robert
A1 Buchak, Lara
A1 Eyal, Nir
YR 2020
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/46/12/808.abstract
AB To counter the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), some have proposed accelerating SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development through controlled human infection (or ‘challenge’) trials. These trials would involve the deliberate exposure of relatively few young, healthy volunteers to SARS-CoV-2. We defend this proposal against the charge that there is still too much uncertainty surrounding the risks of COVID-19 to responsibly run such a trial.