Ian Haydon was one of the first people on the planet to try the Modern COVID-19 vaccine and he is now among volunteers who have been vaccinated longer than anyone else.
But after taking part in the phase one trial of the two-stage survey a year ago, he is not done yet.
Haydon, 30, has just received his third recording of a Moderna vaccination as part of a new trial evaluating both a booster and a vaccine to protect against the South African coronavirus variant.
‘I’ve noticed that a lot of people’s initial reaction to hearing a booster trial is that they’re kind of upset and they accept that it means they’ll have to take booster shots, otherwise we’ll be taking these things for granted. the rest of our lives, ”said Haydon, who lives in Seattle, TODAY.
‘It is important to mention that these trials are taking place now before we even know if a scheme vaccine will be needed. We basically keep the safety test out of the way when we need it. ”
Dr Anthony Fauci shared a similar message last month, noting in a statement that the National Institutes of Health had begun testing the new formulation of Moderna “out of an abundance of caution … if an updated vaccine is needed” would be. “
Haydon recalls being surprised when he was contacted by the clinic where he signed up for the initial hearing about reporting to another, but he said he was eager to do it again.
On April 1, he was administered a formulation that had a lower dose of vaccine than currently available in every Moderna survey: 50 micrograms of mRNA rather than 100 micrograms. Besides being half as much as the standard vaccine, the single injection Haydon received is a 50-50 mixture of the original Moderna vaccine and the reformulated vaccine intended for B.1.351, the South African variant. , to address.
The trial divided a total of 210 volunteers – including some who had not yet received a COVID-19 shot – into different groups testing different formulations. Researchers want to test the safety of the vaccine, how the human immune system responds and what side effects it causes.
Haydon explained what comes next:
Did you get any side effects after the latest survey?
The side effects look a lot like what many people get for their second doses. I had a low degree of fever, a little chills, a little muscle aches and I was tired. It was fairly mild and lasted about 24 hours.
It was easier for me this time because when I got my second shot, I took a very high experimental dose of the vaccine under the microscope and I ended up having significant side effects. Compared to that high dose response, the side effects were much milder for me.
What kind of monitoring will you get?
I basically repeat what I did last year. The first few days after receiving the recording, I keep a record of my temperature every day and I also record side effects. I will call the clinic by telephone.
After two weeks I go in for my first blood supply so they can see what happens, and then I will do regular blood draws for another year. I will also monitor for any changes in my health for that year.
Will you continue if you are asked to try another shot?
Yes. If you want to measure the durability of the vaccine, this is the best opportunity to measure those who got the chance first. It will still be valid for year two and beyond, so if it is helpful for the researchers to know more information, I would love to participate.
You are one of the first people to ever receive a Modern COVID-19 vaccine. How was the last year for you?
Health wise, I’m fine. Aside from the side effects that occurred right after I got the second chance, I did not have any health issues to report at all, so I feel good. I have never had COVID-19.
Many people assume that if I had been vaccinated for a year, I might have skipped the pandemic, but that is certainly not the case. I still wear a mask when I go out. I still work from home. I take as much social distance as I can.
When I was in the first vaccine trial, we had no idea if the Moderna vaccine was not working at all. So for most of 2020, there was no reason for me to assume that I was immune.
When we found out that the vaccine works, it’s been many months since I got the shots. My thinking immediately went to “How long does the protection last?” If it had only been six months, I might have gone through that window already, so there really was no time in the past year where I walked around and assumed I was a protected person who had been immunized.
With this booster, I think I probably have an increased level of immunity. Now I stand in front of a lot of people who have been newly vaccinated, that is that we still live in a world where most of the people you are going to encounter are not vaccinated. I do not live a post-pandemic lifestyle, although the rollout of vaccines is going well and we may not be too far away.
How do you feel about being a vaccine pioneer?
It didn’t hit me emotionally until I saw people receiving the vaccine and posting their vaccinations selfies.
It was quite remarkable to go from a person in an experiment to look at doctors, nurses, politicians and world leaders who say, ‘I just got the Moderna survey’ and realized that it was the same vaccine I had been testing all along. has. It was cool to experience.
This interview has been edited and summarized for clarity.
