RE: Ethical Considerations for International Recruitment in COVID-19 Human Challenge Trials13 Nov 2021 12:31
Ongoing and anticipated COVID-19 human challenge studies in the UK may advance our understanding of COVID-19 and
facilitate the licensure of safe, effective, and easily deployable next-generation COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. We argue
that international volunteer recruitment for COVID-19 human challenge trials can help promote diversity in these trials and
ensure a sufficient number of eligible volunteers, both of which will increase the benefits of challenge research. We explore
the ethical ramifications of dealing with unfair background conditions of global vaccine injustice to expand medical research,
and conclude that international recruitment for COVID-19 human challenge trials can be conducted ethically provided that
several robust protections are in place for volunteers.
Keywords: human challenge trials, research ethics, COVID-19