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TUCSON, Arizona – The announcement of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness nearly 95% celebrated a Tucson clinic.
One in 30 participants in the phase three trial is enrolled in the Quality of Life & Medical Research Center on the east side.
“Yeah, lots of high fives,” according to Dr. Jack McGettigan.
He describes when his quality of life clinic learned the first data, that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective.
“It was amazing for me,” McGettigan said. “We were hoping for 50% or more. I heard of Pfizer’s results, which were incredible. To top it off, yes.”
“Exciting, very exciting,” said Yvonne De Los Reyes, Clinical Research Coordinator.
Related: Meet the Tucson COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Coordinator
She and the staff at Quality of Life worked seven days a week, for months, recruiting nearly a thousand patients into the Moderna trial.
“The long hours, every weekend, the sleepless nights wondering how we’re going to get there,” recalls De Los Reyes. “Here we are, it’s done. Everything is worth it.”
Through this hard work, Tucson became the first clinic to enroll in the Moderna trial of 30,000 participants nationwide.
“Tucson has stepped up, better than any city in the country,” McGettigan said. “We must all be very proud of what Tucson has done.”
I am one of those proud volunteers. I received the two vaccines, 28 days apart.
I had mild symptoms of muscle pain and fatigue, similar to what others have reported. Although I don’t know for sure, I probably received the vaccine.
Once the FDA gives its emergency approval, half of the participants who received a placebo are expected to receive the vaccine.
“I have always believed that this is a group that will be treated very fairly in the future,” said Dr. McGettigan. “There, those who stuck out their necks, so to speak.”
Dr Anthony Fauci praised Quality of Life for its work in recruiting a high percentage of participants from the minority community, around 40%.
Yvonne is proud to help enroll so many people in Tucson’s Latino community. As proud as her school-aged children are of their mother, for helping to find a potential solution to the pandemic.
“They are really excited,” De Los Reyes said. “They’re like rushing around and finding a cure so we can go back to school.”
Moderna could seek emergency FDA approval by the end of the month. Once they get approved, the CDC and Operation Warp Speed will step in, handing out the vaccine.
Quality of Life Medical & Research Center is about to start another high-profile vaccine trial. He is currently looking for volunteers.
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