According to an article published online today by Science Magazine, primate researchers based in the U.S. are pushing for head-to-head COVID-19 vaccine candidate studies in monkeys. The scientists believe human clinical trials may not deliver the comprehensive data needed to choose the safest and most effective vaccines. They say the research could be done within weeks.

“We should take a cold, hard look at all of the data and ask ourselves, ‘What appears to work best?’” said Nancy Haigwood, Director of the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University.   

Dr. Haigwood and her colleagues at the six other national primate research centers are now turning to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for support.

The full Science article can be found at this link.