WeAreTheControl – The Unblinding Issue

As part of the #wearethecontrol campaign, I share a quick bit on the recent issue of the top 2 vaccine companies unblinding their control group, and how this is a problem if we're ever to have any true long-term safety studies.

Less than 6 months after beginning clinical trials, both Moderna and Pfizer cited ethical concerns to support the unblinding of their COVID-19 vaccine trials. In doing so, placebo participants were given the option to receive the vaccine while the trial has yet to conclude.

This rush to unblind the trials undermines the scientific process and diminishes the small window of opportunity to study long term outcomes of these experiments.

In light of the now-shrinking size of the placebo recipients, we volunteer to take over as the control group.

We will “risk it all” for the greater good; sacrificing our chance at the COVID-19 vaccine so a group of intact individuals will remain as a long-term comparative group.

You’re welcome.