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You’ve probably seen the early word from Pfizer of 90% efficacy for the COVID-19 vaccine developed in coordination with BioNTech. I’d like to talk to you about it this morning, because I believe I received it on August 12th, as one of the first trial volunteers in Jacksonville.
The disclaimer of I believe: the study remains blinded. But I had previously tested negative for antibodies on two occasions, experienced side effects very shortly after both the initial and booster injection, and tested positive for antibodies two weeks after the booster. So.
Why participate in the study? 1) Doing something helpful beats just sitting around worrying about this thing. And I’m in pretty good health. 2) Those same factors meant being either first in line via the trial or last in line in distribution.
Why *this* vaccine study? I only considered and applied for the Pfizer study. The approach taken for this vaccine is new in the world of virology. Rather than relying on dead, modified, or weakened virus, this vaccine is based on mRNA – essentially programmed instructions.
mRNA is injected into the body, providing a blueprint for how to build the spike protein that is the unique signature of the COVID-19 virus. Your body’s own cells set to work building this spike protein - not the virus itself. It then realizes it’s been deceived by an intruder.
Your own immune system then sets to work learning how to attach to and neutralize this spike protein, which allows the immune system to then attach to and destroy the virus itself if it is encountered. This seemed less likely to work but less risky than the traditional approach.
I would not have felt comfortable, with my limited bio knowledge, participating in a study centered on a traditional approach, given how little we know – and knew over the summer – about the virus’s characteristics.
So, what happened? Remember there are something like 30,000 trial participants. Full safety data is vital and not yet available, even as initial efficacy is reported out today.
There were 2 injections. The first, then a booster of (to my knowledge) the same dose two weeks later.
There were 2 injections. The first, then a booster of (to my knowledge) the same dose two weeks later.
I developed soreness at the injection site in my upper arm pretty quickly. This got worse over the next several hours. Roughly 24 hours after injection, I started to feel unwell in a manner I can best describe as “flu-like but…strange” Chills, aches, heightened temperature.
This was not pleasant, but symptoms abated rapidly about 12 hours after onset. My arm stayed noticeably sore for a couple days, mostly because I’m a big baby with low pain tolerance.
I submitted an app-based diary of symptoms on a daily basis for two weeks after each injection.
I submitted an app-based diary of symptoms on a daily basis for two weeks after each injection.
With the booster, I expected symptoms again. This time, they hit within 12 hours instead of 24, and were even more pronounced. At worst, I hit a point just under the threshold of calling the study doctor for advice. Chills, aches, temperature. But again, vanished 12 hours later.
I’m a nerd, so as symptoms subsided, I began to think of this vaccine candidate as the Millennium Falcon: the fastest hunk of junk around. A future version may have less pronounced side effects, although my experience should not be seen as representative. But: it gets you there.
As safety data is released, I would not be surprised if it’s recommended people take the day off work after the second injection. We also don’t know if the vaccine helps to eliminate spread or just provides indiv protection so masks and distancing will stick around for some time.
I continue to submit weekly logs of any symptoms and will provide several additional blood draws over the next two years to see how long immunity lasts, but I’m hopeful about this vaccine, and that it will be available soon.
I am in awe of the scientists at Pfizer & BioNTech, as well as the other approaches that will be proven successful over time. I believe we will look back on this as an Apollo-tier achievement, and the mRNA approach may be helpful in inoculating against many other viruses as well.
I will try to answer any questions with my limited firsthand knowledge and will try to advocate for as many people as possible to take advantage of the incredible work that’s been done here, as it moves toward emergency use authorization in the weeks to come.
