Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson began Wednesday a large final study to prove if a single-shot coronavirus vaccine can protect against the disease.
The study will be among the world’s largest vaccine studies thus far, with testing taking place among 60,000 people in the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru, The Associated Press reported.
Some vaccines, such as those in the manufacturing process by U.S. companies Moderna and Pfizer in addition to those throughout the world, are in the final testing stages. While hope exists among experts a viable vaccine will be ready for use by the end of the year, U.S. health officials emphasize the race for a vaccine hasn’t cut corners.
“We want to do everything we can without sacrificing safety or efficacy — we’re not going to do that — to make sure that we end up with vaccines that are going to save lives,” said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, AP reported.
