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Care Home Residents Missing From Crucial Vaccine Trials
20 Jan
Summary
- Care home residents, vulnerable to infection, are underrepresented in vaccine trials.
- Research reviewed 20 vaccine trials involving nearly 7,500 people.
- Scottish government funds research but MHRA regulates vaccine safety.
Research from the University of Aberdeen indicates a significant underrepresentation of care home residents in crucial vaccine trials. These individuals, often prioritized for vaccination due to age and living conditions, are frequently excluded from the testing phases of medications later prescribed to them.
The study, part of the Moderna-funded WATCH consortium, reviewed data from nearly 7,500 participants across 238 UK care homes. It found that despite being prioritized for vaccines like those during the COVID-19 pandemic, care home residents were not recruited into trials.
Experts, including Professor Roy Soiza and Dr. Selvarani Subbarayan, emphasize that frailty, dementia, and other health factors can reduce immune responses in this population. Ensuring their inclusion is vital for understanding vaccine efficacy and safety for the most vulnerable.
While the Scottish government supports research initiatives in care homes, the regulation and licensing of medicines fall under the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The government affirmed that existing COVID-19 vaccines underwent extensive testing, saving countless lives in care homes.
