Nuvance In Danbury To Participate In Trials For New Vaccine

DANBURY, CT — The Nuvance Health Research Department is participating in a Phase 3 clinical trial of a new coronavirus vaccine.

Nuvance Health is the only health system in Connecticut offering the clinical trial for this vaccine that was developed by Oxford University and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The study center is located on the Danbury Hospital campus.

“We are excited to participate in this trial locally to help identify a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine," said Joann Petrini, vice president of Research and Innovation at Nuvance Health, in a news release. "Offering research studies is just one way that Nuvance Health is working to combat the devastating impact of COVID-19."

Participants are 18 years or older, in good or stable health and have no previously confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

Trial participants will be monitored for two years and will visit the study center at Danbury Hospital up to six times for assessments during that time period. The trial is randomized with some volunteers receiving the experimental vaccine and others, a placebo. Neither the participants nor the medical staff involved will know whether a participant is getting the vaccine or the placebo.

The AstraZeneca vaccine has yet to be approved, but could receive authorization in the United Kingdom this week, according to the Associated Press.

Up to 30,000 volunteers have signed up for the trial nationwide, fulfilling the study’s maximum capacity.