I'm in Pfizer's COVID vaccine trial, ask me anything.

[Diomedes]

They said to keep doing whatever you normally do, and the way it works is they document cases of COVID in the trial and placebo groups. If the vaccines was completely ineffective, you'd expect equal numbers. If it was 100% effective, you'd expect every case to be in the placebo group. As it was, I think 151 out of 160 cases in the Pfizer trial were in the placebo group, but don't quote me on those number, I don't think that's exactly correct. Yeah, things like masking reduce the likelihood of infection, which is why you need a TON of people in these trials. I think it's about 30 thousand participants altogether, and that's to get about 160 cases.

[Diomedes]

Nothing beyond what we experienced, and that will likely be the case for the vast majority of people. These RNA vaccines elicit a pretty robust response from what I've read, so what we experienced is typical. That's a good thing, really, because the response is due to your immune system ramping up. We were actually both pretty happy - "well, I feel like poop today, but that means I probably got the real vaccine, so yay!"

I've read the others have similar side effects. In general, anything more severe is extremely rare. Like in the order of one-in-a-million to one-in-ten-million.

[Diomedes]

Ah, *that's* what that smell is.

Thank's Mar.

[Diomedes]

Possibly, yeah. Anything can mutate, and viruses generally mutate faster than other stuff, for reasons that don't matter here. The other side of that is that this isn't a virus that "normally" infects humans, so it could mutate and not infect us anymore. Could go either way.

There are four coronaviruses that cause a cold, and when you get one of those, immunity last 1-3 years. I would guess this would be similar. Could very well end up with an annual combo flu/corona vaccine.

[THE SHOOTIST]

I heard you could go schitzo from it.

[un2xs]

Is the Pfizer vaccine similar to the Moderna mRNA spike protein vaccine? Does it appear that this type of approach will continue to provide protection even with mutation in the virus?

Should an "older" person with high cholesterol wait for the Moderna vaccine or take what is offered first? Is there any potential advantage to eventually getting both or would that be a no go?

Under current guidelines how will the roll out proceed? My understanding is that health care workers are on every short list for being first. Next might be the 65+ population.

Do the vaccines stop you from getting the disease or just greatly increase your ability to fight it once exposed?

[Rickfactor2]

Are you concerned that you may grow a tail?

[moonweasel]

Is the Govt.tracking chip uncomfortable? or small enough not to notice?


Speaking as someone that has had their 3rd precautionary nose probe today, can't wait for all the vaccines to make it out into the wild.

[Tracker]

pretty cool,

how do they test the efficacy though? do you have people cough on you at specific intervals? or is it just a "did you get sick Y/N?"

cause the social distancing and mask wear and personal diligence is supposed to help, so doesn't that kind of alter the ability to get a "clean" test sample free of outside influences?

[smiffington]

Aside from the aforementioned minor side effects, is there any indication of any further ones? I'm kind of afraid of having to get a vaccine for work, I always have a terrible reaction to flu shots so envision I will with this as well. But I don't think Canada is using phizer's anyway. Also, your box is shipped I just forgot tracking number in my work truck, thanks again!

[MAr]

at what point do you believe autism will set in? Why do you smell like mercury now?

Congrats on the vaccine bro. You're part of history. May all of us here today, sneak out of this pandemic alive.

[ford]

I've read Covid-19 can mutate. Does that mean we're going to be gunning for a new Covid vaccine every year like we do with the flu?

[Diomedes]

So, I'm a biologist. Viruses and evolution, specifically. So...this past year has been something else. Never good when so many people are suddenly interested in what I did in grad school.

But to the point, my wife and I are both participants in Pfizer's vaccine trial. We got our first shots in October, and round 2 in early November. It's double blind, so we're not *supposed* to know if we got a placebo or the real deal, but we both had textbook post-vaccination side effects (low-grade fever, aches and soreness) for about a day, so we were confident we got the real thing. We both then got antibody tests to check, and yup, real deal.

So...anybody have any questions? About this vaccine, vaccines in general, the trial, the process, whatever.