Moderna released Phase I clinical trial data for a coronavirus vaccine in 8 patients. While everyone is looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, we need a dose of realism here. Phase I is to assess safety of the vaccine and tells us nothing about whether it is effective.

Also, 8 patients is such a small number that you can’t really even do real statistical analysis at this point. Testing whether the antibodies the patients produced works well in cell culture is also next to meaningless because many in vitro studies cannot be replicated in vivo.

It’s the Phase II clinical trials, which determines whether the vaccine is effective, that would actually justify the exuberance and excitement we see today with Moderna’s vaccine. That’s when you have larger numbers of patients (in the hundreds) and see real results on efficacy.

The problem with our fast COVID-19 news cycle and the heightened emotions on social media is that small news that should be taken with a grain of salt become huge breaking news dominating the headlines. It’s like the Dutch tulip speculation playing with people’s hopes and fears.

I think that medical professionals who use social media have a solemn responsibility not to quickly join the mob and increase unhealthy speculation about drug and vaccine developments without first taking a deep breath and analyzing everything in an impartial and balanced manner.

Imagine running into a cancer patient’s room and screaming, “BREAKING! Great news Jack! There is a new drug that just went through Phase I trials and will totally cure your stage 4 pancreatic cancer! Pop open the champagne!”

That would give false hope and is cruel and unethical.

If that doesn’t fly in the hospital and by the patient’s bedside, what makes you think that’s acceptable behavior on social media where potentially millions of patients see what you say and believe in your premature hope that could ultimately be false?

First, do no harm.

Please