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It’s possible that I had the worst side effects of anyone trialing a coronavirus vaccine — and I’m torn about this story. I completely agree that vaccine side effects should not be ignored, but they should also not be overblown.
Time for thread
https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-vaccines-with-minor-side-effects-could-still-be-pretty-bad/
Time for thread
https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-vaccines-with-minor-side-effects-could-still-be-pretty-bad/
In April, I got my 2nd injection of the Moderna vaccine. I was one of the first people in the safety trial to test the highest dose. They began by giving some volunteers the low dose (25 micrograms), then moved on to medium (100), then moved to my group.
I became ill for ~24 hours. I awoke with high fever, headache, nausea. At the urging of trial docs, I went to urgent care. I was tested for COVID, among other things. My attending physician said I wasn’t sick enough to be admitted into the hospital. He gave me Tylenol.
Later, at home, I threw up once and fainted once. By evening, after drinking some fluids and resting on the couch, I was feeling a lot better. The next morning I was back to normal — nausea gone, fever gone. (I was still fatigued from not getting good sleep the night before)
That was it! I felt for one day how a person with the flu might feel. A hangover, w a fever.
But what I got jabbed with was more than twice what is now being tested. Based on my reaction, and that of perhaps 2 other high-dose subjects, the 250ug dose is no longer being tried.
But what I got jabbed with was more than twice what is now being tested. Based on my reaction, and that of perhaps 2 other high-dose subjects, the 250ug dose is no longer being tried.
Now, I’m a healthy 29 y/o. If a vaccine does that to me, won’t it knock an old person on their ass?
Not necessarily. Vaccines cause fevers bc they rev up the immune system. But in older folks, the immune system is harder to rev. Often vaccines don’t work as well in them.
Not necessarily. Vaccines cause fevers bc they rev up the immune system. But in older folks, the immune system is harder to rev. Often vaccines don’t work as well in them.
Another biological consideration: it seems severe COVID-19 may produce more long-lasting antibodies than a mild infection. The immune system may NEED to be revved up to create lasting immunity. (Little is known abt CoV immunity, so this is speculation)
Going forward, researchers will try moderate vaccine doses on more and more people — the elderly, those w preexisting conditions. (They may even try the Moderna vaccine on my mom, who’s being screened for Phase 3 
)
Those trials will determine if a given vaccine actually works.
)Those trials will determine if a given vaccine actually works.
Here’s how I think about the side effects: If I could give you a pill today that was guaranteed to give you a fever, but would let you venture back out into the world, would you take it?
I may have tried two and a half of those pills.
I may have tried two and a half of those pills.
(ugh – my second dose was in early May, not April)
