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 The study, backed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was
launched in March to determine if Moderna's vaccine can prevent
coronavirus infection, limit the amount of virus present in the nose
and reduce transmission from vaccinated individuals to their close
contacts.
It originally was designed to be tested among college students -
some of whom would get the vaccine on a delayed basis - but it will
now be broadened to adults aged 18-29, including those who choose
not to receive a vaccine, the COVID-19 Prevention Network, which is
overseeing the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine trials, said on Tuesday.
"If our study demonstrates that a COVID-19 vaccine works to prevent
infection and transmission of the virus, many more people may decide
to get vaccinated, which has huge public health implications," said
Dr. Larry Corey, a vaccine expert at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
in Seattle, and principal investigator of the network's operations.
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 In all, the trial will enroll
about 18,000 young adults.
About 6,000 participants will be vaccinated at
the time of enrollment, while another 6,000 will
receive the vaccine four months later. The
remaining 6,000 young adults will be those who
choose not to be vaccinated.
More than 40 sites, including universities,
health care centers and community organizations
across the United States will participate in the
expanded study.
(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru;
editing by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago)
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