On oral vaccine for COVID-19 has entered clinical trials and may turn the tide for some people who are reluctant to vaccinate. According to a recent Gallup Poll, 50% of Americans say they won’t get the vaccine. Fear of needles, or trypanophobia, affects 10% of Americans, according to Verywell Mind, and may reduce the likelihood these individuals will get a vaccine. But if the Vaxart Inc. oral vaccine candidate, VXA-CoV2-1, proves successful, that obstacle will be eliminated.

According to Fox News, the Phase 1 trial involves 48 healthy adults who will receive either a low or high dose of the drug on days 1 and 29 of the testing. The volunteers, aged 18 to 54 years of age, will be evaluated for 12 months, according to a company news release.

“We are very excited about our oral tablet entering the clinic because we believe that the COVID-19 pandemic needs an oral alternative to injectable vaccines,” said Andrei Floroiu, chief executive officer of Vaxart. “Our room temperature stable oral tablet has the potential to ease many of the problems associated with distribution and administration of cold chain dependent injectable vaccines and may make herd immunity more achievable by making it easier to vaccinate more people faster.”