Portman enrolls in Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial

CINCINNATI — U.S. Senator Rob Portman will participate in a phase 3 clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Janssen-Johnson & Johnson, the senator announced Tuesday.

The vaccine candidate and trial is being managed locally by CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services at a research center in Cincinnati, a spokesperson for Portman’s office said in a media release.

“After getting briefed on the Janssen-Johnson & Johnson phase 3 trial recently by Cincinnati’s own CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services, I decided to step forward and enroll in the trial myself. I look at it as a way I can play a small role in supporting our country’s health care response to this pandemic,” Portman said in the statement.

“I hope that my announcement today will encourage others to feel confident in participating in vaccine clinical trials being conducted across this country. I also hope it will reassure people about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines once they have gone through the trials and FDA approval process.”

According to a report from The Associated Press, Portman received an injection Nov. 5 of the vaccine candidate. Volunteers in the study either the vaccine or a placebo shot but aren’t told what they received, according to the AP report.

Portman reported he feels great and has not experienced any side effects, outside of some slight shoulder discomfort near the site of the injection, similar to a flu shot, the AP reported.

Cox Media Group