VACCINE VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT

On Wednesday, two Sacramento research groups said they need more volunteers for their ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trials, according to KCRA 3 News.

Benchmark Research based on Arden Way is currently conducting two trials and is starting up a new one in September. According to site director Nav Kooner, they need at least 500 more participants.

“The more the merrier,” Kooner said.

In July, Benchmark Research began recruiting vaccine trial volunteers who are 18 and older. The trial’s investigator, Dr. Rusty Oshita, said they are specifically keeping an eye out for volunteers who work on the front lines.

“Health care providers. We certainly have certain exposures that make us nervous. We know our firefighters, delivery, police officers, et cetera at high risk,” Oshita said. "No longer are we waiting, hoping for something to happen. Now is the time, that call to action, and we’ve seen our Sacramento residents step up and make that call to action."

On Wednesday, UC Davis Health got the green light to extend their vaccine trial because of the wide diversity of the participants, according to principal investigator Dr. Timothy Albertson. They will be recruiting about 80 more patients, and Albertson said the more diverse, the better.

“The richer the population, the better the reflection of that drug study is on the patients that are likely to use it,” Albertson said.

Since medical experts have found an ethnic bias with the novel coronavirus, UC Davis is paying attention to particular groups.

“[The] Black population, Latinx population and Native Americans,” Albertson said. “We are rich in Asian and Caucasian volunteers. We have Indian volunteers and Pakistani volunteers that we have included in the study also.”

Volunteers said they wanted to be a part of something that will help their community.

“As Americans, we have a duty to do everything we can,” said volunteer Satish Shah. “Doing our part is our fundamental duty.”

As a longtime volunteer in the Elk Grove senior community, Shah signed up for a local vaccine trial after searching for ways to help for months.

“If enough volunteers sign up, the vaccine will be available sooner. It will help everyone, themselves, their family friends and of course humanity in general,” Shah said. “We are all Americans. It will help all of us. We have to do it."

Lisa Hooks got her first trial vaccine on Wednesday.

“I wanted to be a part of something that is historical and something that is meaningful to my community, which is African Americans,” Hooks said. “Historically we have, the African community has not really trusted being a part of trial studies because of what has gone on to us culturally.”

Hooks wants to help change that.

“I wanted to be able to sit at the table to explain to people the processes and how we can become involved of and break down those barriers of not being a part of trials that really impact us,” she said.

Anybody interested in participating in a UC Davis Health clinical study, including COVID-19 studies, can get more information here.