I think it’s more that placebo studies of vaccines could be unethical. Vaccines are preventative treatment. A placebo study would mean that, say, we give the vaccine to 50, and a placebo to 50, and then wait some time (or, for much more unethical, deliberately inject people with the virus), and compare the results.
For something like the common flu, this might be fine, but for something as dangerous as measles, this can be deadly.
I am interested to hear from someone knowlesgeable how vaccines are supposed to be tested.
I think it’s more that placebo studies of vaccines could be unethical. Vaccines are preventative treatment. A placebo study would mean that, say, we give the vaccine to 50, and a placebo to 50, and then wait some time (or, for much more unethical, deliberately inject people with the virus), and compare the results.
For something like the common flu, this might be fine, but for something as dangerous as measles, this can be deadly.
I am interested to hear from someone knowlesgeable how vaccines are supposed to be tested.