Woodland Clinic enrolling volunteers in COVID vaccine trial

Dignity Health’s Woodland Clinic is participating in the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trial and looking for volunteers. The Phase 3 clinical trial, part of the federal Operation Warp Speed effort to find vaccines to protect against the novel coronavirus, calls for enrollment of up to 30,000 participants in the United States and Mexico. The trial will include proportional representation among diverse populations most vulnerable to COVID-19, including by race, ethnicity, age and those with underlying health conditions. Currently two vaccines have been authorized for use in the United States — those by Pfizer and Moderna — but more are needed. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge, with record number of individuals being infected every day. Continued research is needed in vaccines and treatments to help end the pandemic,” said Dr. Rajan Merchant, a clinical immunology specialist with Woodland Clinic. “The development of multiple vaccines will ensure options for patients, creating a larger impact in the fight against coronavirus.” The clinical trial will test the safety and effectiveness of NVX-CoV2373, a stable, prefusion protein engineered from the genetic sequence of SARS‑CoV‑2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. NVX‑CoV2373 was created using Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike (S) protein. The vaccine does not contain a live virus; rather, it contains a purified protein that can neither replicate nor cause COVID-19. Trial participants will randomly receive either the vaccine or placebo in two doses, 21 days apart. Two-thirds of volunteers will receive the vaccine and one-third will receive the placebo. Participants who qualify for the study will receive study-related medical tests throughout the study and monitoring of health and follow-up care and compensation for trial participation The trial seeks participants 18 and over, particularly those that meet the following qualifications: * Represent a racial and ethnic group that has been greatly impacted by the pandemic (such as African American, Latinx, Native American or Asian American) * Have an underlying medical condition (such as diabetes or obesity) * Have a high risk of exposure through work (such as first responder, healthcare professional, or delivery person) * Live or work in an elder-care facility * Are retired or active military For more information, call 530-669-5553 or email DHMFResearch@Dignityhealth.org. Woodland Clinic, part of Dignity Health Medical Foundation, is a multi-specialty clinic with seven locations in Woodland and Davis.