Coronavirus took 7 relatives from him: the story of the first American to test the COVID-19 vaccine

Researchers at the University of Oxford have begun the latest round of testing of their COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, a major step in the fight to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. Writes about this CBS News.

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Oxford researchers, in partnership with AstraZeneca, began administering the coronavirus vaccine to the first volunteers in Florida on Friday, August 28. The study involves 31 Americans, some of whom received the vaccine, others a placebo.

“Look how many lives we have lost. And I just don’t want this to continue,” said 23-year-old volunteer Jacob Serrano.

Serrano has already lost seven family members to COVID-19 and says he wants to be involved in helping to save lives at all costs. He became the first American to take part in a vaccine trial.

“I know there’s a risk,” Serrano said. “But I’d rather we were one step closer, no matter the cost.”

In the third and final phase, the vaccine is tested for safety and effectiveness in reducing or blocking the symptoms of COVID-19. After that, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will consider approving the vaccine for public use.

Serrano was given the dose on Friday, Aug. 28 at the Headlands Gem Research Institute in Lake Worth, Florida. Infectious disease expert and lead researcher, Dr. Larry Bush, expressed optimism about the vaccine's effectiveness.

“The immune response is very encouraging,” he said.

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According to Bush, in the first and second phases of trials, the vaccine showed that "you not only get reliable neutralizing antibodies to fight the coronavirus, but you also get a T-cell response to fight off infected cells, which is critical in treating infections."

Bush said T cells are “another arm of the immune system” that can help fight the virus.

Oxford University is conducting Phase III trials in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.

Headlands Research said its focus is on reaching out to members of the black and Hispanic communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

“The numbers indicate that these groups of people are becoming infected at higher rates,” Bush said. “So this is the group that will benefit most from vaccination.”

AstraZeneca says it plans to attract up to 50 participants worldwide and plans to start a third phase of trials in Japan and Russia. The pharmaceutical giant expects to receive test results as early as 000.

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