I watched a documentary about the HPV vaccine that explained the placebo in that trial was the adjuvant (in that case a new more toxic aluminum salt) without the viral component. So the placebo group had the same side effects in about the same numbers as the vaccine group. A clever manipulation.
The placebo in vx trials is usually another vx. They never use saline because that would give real incontestable results.
Turtles, All the Way Down.
Great book!
I watched a documentary about the HPV vaccine that explained the placebo in that trial was the adjuvant (in that case a new more toxic aluminum salt) without the viral component. So the placebo group had the same side effects in about the same numbers as the vaccine group. A clever manipulation.