The risky way to speed up a coronavirus vaccine

A Covid-19 vaccine could take a long time. Some scientists are proposing a controversial plan that could get us one faster.

With thousands of people dying of Covid-19 every day, the sooner a vaccine can be deemed safe and effective, the better. But vaccine development is a lengthy process that isn’t easy to rush, and that’s in part because of the final step in testing any vaccine: the phase III trial. Phase III requires tens of thousands of volunteers, each of whom get either a placebo or an experimental vaccine. The problem is the next part: Vaccine developers have to wait until a statistically significant number of them, going about their lives normally, eventually get naturally infected. This can take years.

To speed that up, some epidemiologists and scientists are calling for something called a human challenge trial, in which a subject who has been given the vaccine is deliberately infected. This isn’t a new concept; human challenge trials have been used to develop vaccines or treatments for lots of diseases, like cholera, typhoid, malaria, influenza, and common cold viruses. But what sets Covid-19 apart from those diseases is that it currently has no effective treatment. Because it’s so new, we also aren’t fully aware of its long-term health effects. Unlike other human challenge trials, a Covid-19 challenge trial would entail a risk of serious illness — and even death.

It’s because of those risks that a Covid-19 challenge trial would be limited to the young and healthy, who would be at the lowest risk of harm. But there are questions beyond the ethics. Would artificially infecting someone in a lab setting provide useful information on how to prevent natural infection? Would a study performed on only young and healthy people produce a vaccine that works for everyone? And with some vaccines already far along in their phase III trials, would a human challenge trial do any good at this point?

Even though no Covid-19 human challenge trials are currently planned, more than 30,000 people from nearly 150 countries have already said they would volunteer for one if the opportunity presented itself. The question is, should we let them?

Note: The headline on this piece has been updated.
Previous headline: Would you volunteer to get Covid-19?

Further reading:

1DaySooner is the grassroots organization recruiting volunteers for the possibility of a human challenge trial:

For more of Vox’s coverage on human challenge studies:

For more on the ethical and acceptance concerns with vaccine development:

For a history of challenge studies for other diseases:

For coverage of the typhoid vaccine we mention in the video:

For coverage of Oxford University’s statement on human challenge trials:

[MouseionAlexandria]

Makes me remember about the guy who proved that bacteria causes stomach ulcers, rather than stress. By infecting himself with it and curing it with antibiotics and got Nobel prize in physiology. Dr. Barry Marshall is his name.

[jijumonm]

Literally risking their lives voluntarily for the benefit of humanity. Sounds cheesy but that's exactly what these trial volunteers are doing. I wish them the very best, and I hope their governments treat them like the heroes they are.

[alfredkc]

To those who are volunteering - you have my uttermost respect, and I can’t thank you enough for what you’re contributing to society.

[jairajmahadev]

Everybody gangsta till the US graph shows up

[ArshMellow]

Anyone who tests things like this for us, thank you. Stay strong!

[sunrise-roblox]

i can’t wait for people to say “ who’s here AFTER coronavirus?” lol

[BrainsApplied]

Honestly, if I had to choose between getting Covid and paying $10, 000 to a hospital or getting Covid and earning money for it, I'd know what to choose.

[ratboyinc]

The thought of knowingly infecting yourself with a disease is so frightening to me, mad respect to these brave volunteers!!

Edit- How are people in the comments saying that COVID isn’t real 😐

[khangvinh]

“2nd to U.S”

*show U.S tripling the U.K

[zuko]

Imagine these volunteers telling their story to their grandchildren

They'd feel so proud

[Tinsolz]

Just get those college students who were throwing those corona parties to do the challenge trials.

[NOVA-eikj]

I told my mom I wanna join the volunteer group but being a typical asian she gave me that deadly stare..its not the virus I'm scared of.

[invaderjiro]

For all volunteers, thank you for your help, you are our modern heroes!!!

[memedude]

Russia be like "I’m ten steps ahead of you we don’t use volunteers we use prisoners"

[waterlily]

I actually wouldn’t mind doing this, I’m already going to be exposed to the virus in school so why not get infected willfully in a controlled environment?

[OscarLeeMX]

If we were living in the 60s, they would just do this testing on prisoners.

[yashav]

Strong spirited people are always inspiring and heartwarming.

[jaydawalrus]

“Hey mom, some guy asked me to down a shot of COVID-19, should I do it?”

[spongebobspongebob]

These people are heroes. And I do not use that word very often, or at all.

[inigojuancarlos]

Why not all the “Karens” should be put on a Human Challenge Trial since they refuse to wear mask.