Vaccines play an important role in
keeping us healthy, by reducing the risk of infection. The vaccine works with
with our natural immune system to build defenses and immunity to a specific
disease. When germs (either a bacteria or virus) invade the body, they
attack and multiply. This is called an infection. In response, the body’s
immune system, a network of cells, tissues and organs, work together to protect
your body and get rid of the infection. If the germ is new or foreign to
your immune system, it make take several days for your immune system to act, as
it is learning how to fight off the infection. Because your immune system has a
great memory, if the germ comes back, your immune system will be able to fight
it off faster, keeping you healthier and happier.
When you get a vaccine, it imitates an infection which allows the immune system to develop immunity. The vaccine rarely causes illness since it is a small amount of weak or dead germs that can cause the disease. This allows the immune system to produce antibodies and prepare your body to fight the disease faster and more effectively. This way you won’t get sick or reduce the severity of the symptoms.
There are several different types of vaccines:
- A Live Vaccine fight viruses and bacteria. These vaccines contain a version of the living virus or bacteria that has been weakened so it does not cause serious disease in people with a healthy immune system. Since this type of vaccine is closest the “real” infection, it is the best teacher for your immune system. An example of this type is the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine or the Chickenpox vaccine.
- An Inactivated Vaccine also fight viruses and bacteria. The vaccine includes germs which are killed (or inactive). Since the vaccine produces an immune response which is slower than a live vaccine, often times multiple doses are necessary to build up and maintain immunity. An example of this type of vaccine would be the polio vaccine.
- A Toxoid Vaccine prevents diseases caused by bacteria that produce toxins in the body. When the immune system receives a vaccine containing a toxoid, the immune system learns to fight off the natural toxin should you come into contact with it. An example of this type would be the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine.
- A Subunit Vaccine, similar to the inactivated vaccine, this vaccine doesn’t contain live components of a virus or bacteria. It contains only specific parts of the germ (also scientifically known as an antigen) that is necessary to teach your immune system how to fight off the virus. Side effects for this type of vaccine is less common, as it is not give the whole germ. An example of this would be the Whooping Cough Vaccine.
- A Conjugate Vaccines fights off a different type of bacteria. Bacteria can sometimes go unnoticed by your immune system by disguising themselves. This make it hard for your immune system to recognize and respond to the bacteria. The vaccine gives information to recognize the disguised bacteria to your immune system. Therefore, letting your immune system react and develop a response. An example of this type of vaccine is the Hib vaccine.
While vaccines work in different ways, they all have an important task in keeping us healthy. Medical advancements for vaccines are an important part of continuing to keep us healthy. Research is about finding out new knowledge that could lead to changes in treatment, or care. This new knowledge give investigational vaccines the potential to have greater protection to disease and update current ones to be more effective and safe. If you would like to be a part of a community of research heroes, and would like to participate in a vaccine research study, give us a call today at 585-288-0890.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking volunteers who are 18 years or older, who have not had a flu shot in the last 6 months, for an mRNA multivalent influenza vaccine study. The study could last up to 6 months and includes up to 5 visits to our office. If you qualify, compensation is available for your time and travel.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
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Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking volunteers who are 65 years and older for an Influenza vaccine study. The purpose of this study will be to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an mRNA vaccine to prevent influenza. Compensation for time and travel is available for around $630 to those who qualify.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently looking for volunteers between the ages of 18 to 59 years old to participate in an RSV study. This study is for people who are considered high-risk, due to underlying health conditions. The study will last approximately 7-8 months and could include 2-3 office visits. Compensation will be available for the trial-related time.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
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Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking participants who are between the ages of 18-60 years old for an HSV-2 genital herpes vaccine study. This study is approximately 15 months long and includes 10 office visits and 12 telephone calls. To qualify for this study, you must have had a diagnosis of genital herpes for at least 1 year. Compensation for your trial-related time is available.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking participants between the ages of 18 to 49 and 60 to 80 years old for a norovirus vaccine study. The study is approximately 14 months long and includes 11 office visits and 8 telephone calls. Compensation for this study is $125 per office visit and $25 per phone call completed.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
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Rochester Clinical Research is currently enrolling children between the ages of 2-17 years old for a pediatric RSV vaccine study. The study is approximately 6 months long and will include 2 visits to our office and 2 phone calls. Compensation of $125 per office visit and $60 per phone visit is available for trial-related time.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
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Rochester Clinical Research is seeking volunteers between the ages of 60-85 years old for an investigational RSV and human metapneumovirus vaccine study. The study could last approximately 12 months long and include 7 visits to our office along with 5 telephone calls. During this study, you will be compensated for your participation up to $200 per office visit and $50 per phone call.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is seeking participants between the ages of 18-70 years old for an adult Lyme Disease vaccine study. The study is approximately 19 months long and will include 12-14 visits to our office during that time. There is a 12.5% chance of a placebo in this study. Compensation for your trial-related time will be provided.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking participants who are 50 years or older for a Pneumococcal vaccine research study. The length of the study is 6 months long and it includes approximately 3-4 visits to the office and 6 telephone calls. To qualify, you can’t have had a previous pneumococcal vaccine. For your participation, you will be compensated for your trial related time.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking volunteers between the ages of 18-50 years old, who have not had a flu shot in the last 6 months, for an mRNA multivalent influenza vaccine study. The study could last up to 7 months and includes up to 6 visits to our office and 2 phone/virtual contacts. If you qualify, compensation is available for your time and travel.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is looking for participants 12 -17 years old for a Covid-19 booster study. This study is approximately 12 months long and includes 5 visits to our office along with 3 telephone calls. Compensation is available if you qualify to participate.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking healthy volunteers between the ages of 18-55 years old to participate in an mRNA vaccine study to help potentially prevent the Epstein-Barr Virus. The study is 13 months long and includes 11 visits to our office. Compensation is available for your time and travels to participate.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently looking for individuals to join a vaccine study for the varicella-zoster virus. Varicella is a herpesvirus that can cause chickenpox and shingles infections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an mRNA vaccine against the virus. RCR is seeking participants between the ages of 50-69 years old who have not previously received a shingles vaccine. This study could last between 8-12 months to 5 years long and includes at least 10-15 office visits. Reimbursement to participate is available for up to $128 per office visit and $5 for every diary entry completed.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking volunteers between the ages of 9-15 years old to participate in a preventative CMV vaccine study. The purpose of this study is to vaccinate children against the virus to prevent them from spreading it to adults, especially women that may be planning on becoming pregnant in the foreseeable future. The study is approximately 18 months long and includes 12 visits in total.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
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There is currently no vaccine to prevent or protect against Lyme. RCR is currently conducting a vaccine study to help prevent Lyme disease from infecting adolescents between the ages of 5 to 17. This study will last approximately 24 months with 6 visits to our RCR office and 2 telephone calls.
View Trial Details *Compensation for time and travel may be available to those who qualify.
Rochester Clinical Research is currently seeking born-female volunteers who are 16 or 17 years old to participate in a CMV vaccine study. The purpose of this study is to find a safe and effective vaccine against Cytomegalovirus.
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