Clinical trials for potential COVID-19 vaccines need to include a more diverse roster of participants

Those who lead clinical trials for potential COVID-19 vaccines need to include more minorities. According to Marjorie A. Speers, executive director of non-profit Clinical Research Pathways and a former CDC official, Black and Latino patients are vastly under-represented in most clinical trials. It is important to include them now to determine if new vaccines are safe and effective for those minority populations. Dr. Speers is available to talk to journalists on the topic. She has been quoted on the subject in recent press reports and writes about the effort on her organization’s website: clinicalresearchpathways.org.