On Jul. 21, 2020, National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers reported early results from the first COVID-19 vaccine candidate tested in people showed that it triggered an immune response against the virus with no serious side effects. The vaccine, called mRNA-1273, is being co-developed by researchers at NIHﾒs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the biotech company Moderna.

The first stage was a Phase 1 clinical trial. In Phase 1, the vaccine is given to healthy volunteers to test if it’s safe and induces an immune response against the virus. Scientists began the Phase 1 trials of an experimental vaccine for COVID-19 in mid-March. The vaccine, called mRNA-1273, is being co-developed by researchers at NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the biotech company Moderna.