Clinical trials can lead to life-saving new vaccines, but they can’t happen without you.
Did you know that your risk for infection can vary depending on your age, genetics, and where you live?
It is important that everyone has access to vaccines that work for them, regardless of their background. This starts with clinical trials.
Ensuring clinical trial participants reflect the diversity of the people affected by different diseases will improve the development of vaccines for everyone—but we cannot do it without you.
Every vaccine that we depend on today for the health of ourselves and our communities is only possible because of people like you, who gave their time to help.
Participation is entirely voluntary, and for those in a position to take part, it is a gift.
Each investigational vaccine being tested in a clinical trial will have gone through years of laboratory research before the pharmaceutical company, governmental and ethics bodies, determine that testing in people is ready to begin.
Many entities provide oversight of clinical trials, including an independent group of scientists, doctors, and non-medical members, called an institutional review board or independent ethics committee. This group is responsible for protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of participants.
Before you join a clinical trial, you will be provided with information and details about the study. This process is called informed consent, and will review all possible risks and benefits.
Patient safety is the most important part of any research, and all participants’ health is carefully monitored.
You can leave a clinical trial at any time if you decide that you no longer want to take part.
Why are vaccine clinical trials important?
Vaccine clinical trials (also called clinical studies) are a type of research that helps scientists learn more about ways to prevent diseases. This research can lead to the creation of new vaccines or a new generation of what is currently available.
Before vaccines are approved to be used, they must be proven to be safe and effective. Without these trials and the volunteers who take part, much of modern medicine would not exist.
Many diseases affect specific groups of people differently. That’s why it’s important that people from different backgrounds and communities, who are not always represented,
join vaccine clinical trials. This helps address healthcare gaps (also called disparities) in age, race, and ethnic backgrounds, and in communities where we live and work. It is
important to test for differences in outcomes and to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of vaccines for everyone.
At Pfizer, we are committed to creating change for the better by doing our part to make clinical research more inclusive. Ensuring diversity in clinical trials is a matter of equity. We have made a commitment to design clinical trials to reflect all communities, including the people most affected by the diseases we intend to prevent. Together, we can make
vaccines better for all.
Want to learn more?
If you are interested in participating in a vaccine clinical trial, please discuss your options with your doctor or healthcare provider.
