Army testing vaccine on monkeys

Army researchers at Fort Detrick, Md., are testing a potential coronavirus vaccine on monkeys, the first of multiple steps in manufacturing a widely available prevention against the virus, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters April 6. The Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases has begun primate testing. DoD is involved in five different clinical vaccine trials, in addition to supporting other federal agencies conducting their own testing, said Air Force Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Paul Friedrichs, Joint Staff surgeon. The military is also testing a number of drug mixtures that could dampen the severity of coronavirus' symptoms, or the length of the time of an infection. Friedrichs said it's possible those results will come faster than a potential vaccine. Those also include trials with hydroxychloroquine. Friedrichs said that while that drug is "not widely being distributed" to military personnel, DoD is conducting a small-group study on its capabilities to treat COVID-19 cases. (Source: Military.com 04/96/20) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/06/army-researchers-begin-animal-testing-coronavirus-vaccine.html