America's attention is on Election Day right now, but an equally impactful decision is happening behind the scenes with COVID-19 vaccines.
We have reported onvaccine trials in the Valley. Another trial, by AstraZeneca, is ramping up and showing promising results.
Doctors are hoping the vaccine can be ready by the end of 2020.
One Phoenix group, looking to sign up 50 patients a day for the next 30 days.
Those 1,500 Arizonans are a fraction of the 33,000 Americans - and 30,000 Europeans - who need to be tested for side effects and overall efficacy, before scientists can conclude it is safe and ready for you at home.
"We want to make sure we are giving the safest vaccine in the world to everyone," said Dr. Thomas Fiel, with Fiel Family & Sports Medicine.
Fiel is a principal investigator for the AstraZeneca vaccine trial in the Valley.
"I’ve been doing this for over 25 years now. So my issue is oversight - making sure all the protocols are being followed, any adverse effects that may happen with the vaccine itself," said Fiel.
The trial has been progressing throughout the year, despite a pause in early October.
"They’ve done over 10,000 patients already, and found it to be very safe. And they found the antibody response," said Fiel, who has helped oversee more than a dozen vaccine trials.
The trial is one of at least three phase-three trials that is being conducted in the Valley with Arizonans.