The first human trial testing a potential vaccine to prevent COVID-19began Monday, U.S. health officials confirmed.

Finding "a safe and effective vaccine" to prevent infection fromthe new coronavirus "is an urgent public health priority," Dr. Anthony Fauci,director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said ina statement Monday. "This Phase 1 study, launched in record speed, is animportant first step toward achieving that goal.

It's not the only potential vaccine in the pipeline. Dozens of research groups around the world are racing to create a vaccine against Covid-19. Another candidate, made by Inovio Pharmaceuticals, is expected to begin its own safety study — in the US, China, and South Korea — next month.

Most of the vaccine research underway globally targets a protein aptly named "spike" that studs the surface of the new coronavirus and lets it invade human cells. Block that protein and people won't get infected.