NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center were "giddy" to hear news about the success of the Moderna vaccine.
Moderna is just one of the vaccines currently undergoing trials to control the spread of COVID-19. The company reported that trials had a 94.5% success rate. Vanderbilt took part in the study of the vaccine. 500 volunteers were either given the vaccine or a placebo.
Director of Vanderbilt Vaccine Research ProgramDr. Buddy Creech said the data is promising.
"This is an exciting time for us in vaccines because it shows us that both of the vaccines that we've evaluated so far, one from Pfizer and one from Moderna has shown themselves to be effective when given in these phase three trials. So, it gives us a lot of confidence that not only are these vaccines successful, but other vaccines that are built similarly will have the same level of success," said Dr. Creech.
30,000 people are a part of the trial. The vaccine is delivered in two shots.
"Heck, it was just like any shot that you get, any immunization that you get," said Bill Snyder, one of the trial participants. "I enrolled in the trial because I want to help advance the science as quickly as I can. I guess you could consider me to be in a high-risk group. I'm 67, but I don't have any other health conditions."
Snyder said he didn't have any side effects from the vaccine. Dr. Creech said there were no serious side effects reported in Vanderbilt's trial.
Vanderbilt is also participating in another vaccine trial with the company Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Creech said it's a similar vaccine to Moderna's but would be delivered in one shot instead of two.
"I think we were giddy when the information came out today," said Dr. Creech. "Because now we can really confidently say that this wasn't a fluke. This is seeing the same thing over and over again."
