CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The company Moderna along with the National Institutes of Health announced early vaccine testing results. Those results show it does appear to help the body fight off COVID-19.

"I think what you are seeing right now is that there's a high likelihood that, at the beginning of the year, which would be less than 12 calendar months from the initiation of that virus in this country and possibly even earlier in the fall, you will have a prime candidate of a vaccine that has moved to the front of the pack,” said Dr. Michael Burgess, a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives.

Final testing is about to begin now on this vaccine. Researchers say the Moderna vaccine that’s been tested on about 45 people showed that it revs up the body’s immune system. That’s the way it helps fight off the virus.

It’s still considered experimental, but this study partially developed with the help of the National Institutes of Health is now set to start a study 30,000 volunteers in just a few weeks.

These early volunteers reportedly develop what’s called neutralizing antibodies in their bloodstream. These are molecules that hold the keys to blocking infection. These were found at level to be comparable to those who have survived COVID-19.

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. If the next rounds of trials are successful, this vaccine could be available to at least those at high risk of complications from this virus sometime in 2021.

It would likely be approved for emergency use if found safe and effective. It does require two doses a month apart.

More than half of those who got it reported mild flu symptoms. These aren’t uncommon with vaccines. Generally, that means mild fatigue, headache, chills and pain at the injection site. No serious side effects were reported.

In three people given the highest dose, those side effects were said to be a bit more severe. Most lasted about a day after getting the vaccine.

This study only included younger adults. We have yet to hear about the expanded results that included those who were older.

Final testing needs to include those who are older and those with chronic health conditions, as well as other populations that appear to be at higher risk. This is one of about two dozen possible COVID-19 vaccines now in various stages of testing around the world.

Published here.