August 24, 2020
Dear Advocates,
In this update, you’ll find links to two new AVAC resources designed to support advocacy and accountability in the context of the search for a COVID-19 vaccine, and a reminder about an
upcoming webinar.
We have developed these new tools in the context of unprecedented public and media attention to vaccine research and development. Every day, scientists, researchers and politicians make bold predictions—sometimes backed up with significant financial resources—about moving research with extraordinary speed. Speed is essential, but must not come at the expense of ethics, safety, robust engagement, equitable access, and scientific rigor including independent peer and regulatory reviews.
AVAC’s new resources are designed to help advocates fact-check, counter-balance claims in the media and their communities, and accelerate accountability-oriented action where needed. These two fact sheets—the first of a series—provide an overview of the pipeline and a primer on the risks and benefits of expedited vaccine research.
After reading and downloading these tools, we hope you will join us on Tuesday, August 25, 10-11am EDT for an AVAC-hosted webinar presentation and discussion with Dr. Barney Graham, the Deputy Director of the NIH’s Vaccine Research Center (VRC). Dr. Graham will review the COVID-19 vaccine development pipeline and provide an update on the vaccine developed by Moderna and the NIH (mRNA-1273), which is currently being tested in a Phase III trial.
Register here.
We look forward to seeing you at tomorrow’s webinar.
Best,
AVAC
