Volunteers sought for Spain’s combi-vaccine trials

Volunteers sought for Spain’s combi-vaccine trials.

SIX hundred volunteers are being sought by the Carlos III Health Institute to take part in a trial that will determine if Pfizer can be given as a second dose to those who have received a first jab of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

The government-backed CombivacS trial specifically needs people under the age of 60 who received an AstraZeneca jab before March 5 to take part.

“The trial began on Monday (April 26) with the aim of studying the possible benefits of a combination of vaccines to complete immunization against Covid-19, and the possibility of receiving volunteers to participate in the study,” reads a statement.

Volunteers will be split into two groups randomly.

Group one or the ‘intervention group’, will be made up of 400 people who will receive a dose of the Pfizer vaccine, followed by 28 days of clinical observation and antibody analysis for a year.

Group two will be made up of 200 people, who will not initially receive any vaccine. This group 2 will act as a control group, with all surveillance, security and analysis procedures being identical to those of the experimental group.
Results are expected four weeks after the first person receives a dose of Pfizer.

The clinical trial is one of the first to analyse the safety and immunogenicity of a combined schedule of vaccines against Covid.

It is being promoted, coordinated and financed by the Carlos III Health Institute, managed by its Clinical Research Platform, and has received scientific advice from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS).

Visit the official site to find out more about taking part.