Learning Center

COVID-19 is still dominating media headlines, and for good reason. Several vaccines have been granted Emergency Use Authorization, but new case and death rates have reached record highs in the U.S. recently. One update is drawing immense attention, concern, and confusion — new variants of COVID-19 have recently emerged. Strain, variant, or mutation? SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is a strain of the coronavirus family. So there aren’t new strains of SARS-CoV-2, but there are new variants (a.k.a. ‘variant strains’). Variants develop from mutations, or changes, to … Read more

Many adults participate in clinical trials each year, but why is it necessary to have children’s clinical trials? Not all medications approved for adults can be ‘dosed down’ to safely work for children. Throughout infancy, childhood, and adolescence, the developing body may react to medications much differently than in adulthood. Aspirin is an example of a common medication that is not approved for use in children younger than three. Moreover, aspirin can cause severe complications in children and teenagers experiencing fever and/or flu-like symptoms. That’s why clinical trials … Read more

Vaccine clinical trials are in the spotlight. Endless worldwide media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and groundbreaking vaccine research have also reignited the public’s interest — and intense debate — about vaccine ingredients. One common question is, “Why do some vaccines contain aluminum or mercury?” The Role of Aluminum in Vaccines Aluminum is an adjuvant ingredient in vaccines. In vaccines, adjuvants are used to stimulate a stronger immune response. Most vaccines are intended to work by exposing you to a small, safe amount of weakened, dead, inactive, or … Read more

Our clinical staff is often asked by participants whether or not vaccines can cause the infections they’re supposed to prevent. Or, put another way, “Is this a live vaccine?” This has been especially true for our COVID-19, influenza, anthrax, and Zika virus studies. The answer is almost always no; vaccines generally cannot cause the illnesses they’re intended to prevent. Vaccines work by exposing you to a small and safe amount of weakened, dead, inactive, or biosynthetic bacteria or viruses. This prompts your immune system to recognize the pathogen … Read more