Navigating the Evolving Landscape of COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities in Vaccine and Therapeutic Development - Abstract
New therapeutics and vaccines have had a significant impact on the COVID-19 pandemic, with lower mortality and morbidity reported in which host immunity from either vaccination or previous infection may be playing a significant role. However, High-Risk and Immunocompromised Patients (HRIP) largely contribute to the current hospitalizations and infections cases and are still in need of new countermeasures. Treatment or prevention of COVID-19 clinical trials with healthy volunteers are now much more difficult due to lower attack rates. However, clinical trials in the HRIP population create an opportunity to develop new vaccines and therapeutics alternatives. We propose clinical trials in the HRIP population to improve outcomes and be better prepared for possible next waves of the COVID-19.