Carroll native, Sonia Bell, who works for Emory University in the Atlanta suburb of Conyers, Ga. was featured in an NBC nightly news story Monday. Emory is one of the sites for clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine. Bell, who is not a physician, is however a member of the infectious disease division at the university.
Because of her relationships with those working on the vaccine, Bell made the very personal decision to volunteer to be a participant in the clinical trials. She says this is not her first time playing a role in these types of testing groups, and her experience gives her a good idea of what to expect.
Bell was given the vaccine early last week and says the full scope of this trial is estimated to be 12 to 18 months; which is a fast-track when compared to the multi-year clinical testing process used when there is not a pandemic. Bell says she got involved because it is just one way she could help others as we all work together to get through this situation.
In the Atlanta area, Bell says they are between the situations in New York City and Iowa. They have been sheltering in place for several weeks, but Georgia Gov., Brian Kemp, announced he was implementing a multi-step plan to reopen businesses. Bell says the healthcare communities are closely monitoring this.
There are new scenarios daily and Bell says everyone is doing the best they can to adapt and feel their way through it. One thing it is going to take, she adds, is a lot of flexibility on everybody’s part. Bell’s parents are Sue and Mark Huebsch and Don and Loanna Meiers. She graduated from Carroll High School, in what she calls THE best class of note, in 1998 and is an alumna of the University of Iowa. She married her high-school sweetheart, Keith Bell and they have three children. The family moved to Georgia in 2004 and Bell has been with Emory since 2008.
