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Characterizing altruistic motivation in potential volunteers for SARS-CoV-2 challenge trials.
Marsh, Abigail A; Magalhaes, Monica; Peeler, Matthew; Rose, Sophie M; Darton, Thomas C; Eyal, Nir; Morrison, Josh; Shah, Seema K; Schmit, Virginia.
  • Marsh AA; Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
  • Magalhaes M; Center for Population-Level Bioethics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America.
  • Peeler M; Department of Mathematics, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, North Carolina, United States of America.
  • Rose SM; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
  • Darton TC; Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
  • Eyal N; Center for Population-Level Bioethics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America.
  • Morrison J; Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America.
  • Shah SK; Department of Philosophy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America.
  • Schmit V; 1Day Sooner, Claymont, Delaware, United States of America.
PLoS One ; 17(11): e0275823, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2098747
ABSTRACT
In human challenge trials (HCTs), volunteers are deliberately infected with an infectious agent. Such trials can be used to accelerate vaccine development and answer important scientific questions. Starting early in the COVID-19 pandemic, ethical concerns were raised about using HCTs to accelerate development and approval of a vaccine. Some of those concerns pertained to potential exploitation of and/or lack of truly informed consent from volunteers. Specific areas of concern arose around individuals who may be unusually risk-seeking or too economically vulnerable to refuse the payments these trials provide, as opposed to being motivated primarily by altruistic goals. This pre-registered study is the first large-scale survey to characterize people who, early in the pandemic, expressed interest and intention to volunteer to participate in COVID-19 HCTs. We found that individuals expressing interest in SARS-CoV-2 HCTs exhibit consistently altruistic motivations without any special indication of poor risk perception or economic vulnerability. In finding that, early in the pandemic, COVID-19 HCTs were able to attract volunteers whose values align with the nature of these trials, and who are not unusually vulnerable to exploitation, this study may allay some ethical concerns about the volunteers interested in participating in such trials.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0275823

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0275823