Covid Vaccine Trials Highlight the Challenges to Recruit Minorities

Inclusion of minorities in Covid vaccine clinical trials is crucial to assure that the vaccine works across racial and ethnic populations but despite the keen interest in Covid vaccines, minorities represent a minor fraction of the trial participants. Companies have had mixed experience recruiting trial participants at educational institutions with predominantly African-American students, offering a possible example for other sponsors. The trial recruitment efforts involved educators at these institutions along with trial staff from within the community. The educators enrolled in the trials themselves to set examples and wrote to their communities clarifying misperceptions, and encouraging inquiries from the students. Although their efforts were initially met with mistrust and suspicion, it eventually led to increased enrollment. The experiment highlighted some ways to address the inherent mistrust in minority communities regarding sponsors conducting clinical trials. First, involve community leaders and educators who could lead by example and also answer questions. Second, use trial staff from within the community to create a familiar setting for education and enrollment. Third, address the counter arguments with current information regarding efforts incorporated in trials for transparency, openness, and collaboration with the community. Changing perceptions takes time and effort. But this example shows that persistence leads to results.