Pfizer is giving participants in its COVID-19 vaccine trials the option to learn whether they received the vaccine or a placebo and is offering vaccinations to those who received the placebo, the drugmaker announced Jan. 1.
The initiative, called the Vaccine Transition Option, gives trial participants ages 16 years and older who received a placebo the option to receive Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine while remaining in the study.
Participants in the placebo arm who want to receive the vaccine will be scheduled for an in-person visit, during which the study physician will provide and explain a new informed consent document.
The drugmaker hopes to administer first doses to all participants in the placebo arm who opt to get the vaccine by March 1.