Life
Meharry Medical College recruiting minority participants for its COVID-19 vaccine trials
College wants to make sure Black and brown communities are properly represented and given equal, quality care.
Meharry Medical College – one of the largest historically black academic health science and research centers in the United States – is currently recruiting minority volunteers for its COVID-19 vaccine trial.
Representatives say the college wants to make sure Black and brown communities are properly represented and given equal, quality care.
“Recent studies show COVID-19 infects Black Americans at nearly 3 times the rate of white Americans, and are twice as likely to die from the virus,” a news release said. “Minority participation is essential in eliminating these disproportionate outcomes.”
Meharry is part of the national initiative to help the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, dubbed “Operation Warp Speed.” It’s a joint project of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Pentagon, under the overall direction of HHS. The Defense Department has extensive medical capabilities to keep U.S. service members worldwide safe from disease.
Vanderbilt University and Nashville research company Clinical Research Associates are also participating in COVID-19 vaccine trials.
Those interested in Meharry’s trial can register at https://www.coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org/.