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

[skinnyfatguy]

With demand likely to be very high, and supply initially low, have you heard if there are there any plans to require antibody testing prior to giving someone the vaccine? I'm assuming people who have already contracted the virus won't see much benefit from the vaccine, and my understand is it's likely there have been millions of unagonized cases in people that were asymptomatic or only had mild symptoms.

[Diomedes]

No idea, but my guess would be no. Part of what they want to figure out is the strength of the vaccine response compared to a natural exposure. It's likely that the response from the vaccine would be stronger and longer lasting, so even with natural protection, it would be better if everyone could be vaccinated.

[Foldadoom]

As there are 9 documented strains ...how will they achieve famil immunity?

[Diomedes]

My understanding is that there have been some mutations since the pandemic started, but none that have a large enough effect on the spike protein to cause problems for vaccination. Not yet, anyway. It'll certainly change enough at some point, and if it keeps circulating, that would require updated vaccines, like we do for influenza each year.

[Axel]

Does the trial involve any random or regular testing to detect asymptomatic cases among the participants?

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.

Would that not seriously piss you off if you were the researcher and your subjects unblinded themselves? Lol

[Diomedes]

To be fair, the symptoms did the unblinding for us. Other participants have asked about antibody testing and been told "do whatever you want just don't tell us the results". They're tracking objective measures like positive COVID tests, so the participant being unblinded barely matters.

As far as I know, they're tracking symptomatic cases, but one of the other trials is also testing for asymptomatic. AstraZenica, maybe?

[russc]

Would the vaccine elicit a similar response if you had already been infected with Covid?

[Diomedes]

Yes, a prior infection wouldn't interfere with the vaccine. If anything, that would result in more robust immunity, since both doses would effectively act like boosters for the already acquired immunity.

[ta2maki]

Couldn't you have gotten a random or non-covid flu shot as a control? Making 'getting side effects' not a tell if you got the placebo or not.

DUN! DUN! DUN!

[Diomedes]

One of the trials is using a different vaccine as the placebo, but the rest, Pfizer included, are using true saline placebos.

[chrislognshot]

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?

going to be like flu and not go away

[Diomedes]

Could go either way. SARS-1 vanished in 2005, hasn't been a single case since. MERS pops up occasionally but doesn't persistently circulate. But there are four other coronaviruses that just cause a cold and circulate persistently. So...who knows.

[bellicose]

Was this volunteer basis, or did you get some sort of compensation? Also, how did you know where to sign up?

[Diomedes]

We do get paid for each visit, not a ton, but it covers gas/tolls/lunch driving from NJ into Manhattan for each visit.

It was just a word of mouth thing for us - friend of a friend, email so-and-so to see if you can get in, and poof, we were in. Some of the other trials are doing more visible recruiting.

[Arthur]

Before I ask this question I just want to be clear that I do intend to use this vaccine once it’s available. Is there any concern with provoking too much of an immune response? I’ve had my body really wig out over a virus, hospitalized, it was awful.

[Diomedes]

That's a good question, I don't know. This vaccine isn't actually the virus, but definitely ask a doctor who would have a better answer.

[boarder2k7]

Wig out over a virus or over a vaccine? Not sure given the discussion topic

[Foldadoom]

Well considering the full name is SArs covid 19 at these the early reports out of China ...
there is definitely a trend for severity of infected and the strain...I think WHO have an on line strain map. I don't suppose you were given any literature like what the name vaccine is ? I assume Pfizer is one attenuated virus as the storage for it is -80 degrees centigrade where as i se other manufacures are rt ...

[Diomedes]

All of the trial vaccines are mRNA vaccines, none are attenuated. Pretty uncommon to make a new vaccine attenuated these days.

[sloonan]

Didn't realize you are in NJ, so am I. When its safe to get together again we should set up a meetup for all the NJ/NYC folks and grab a drink.

[Diomedes]

My goodness yes.

[Axel]

I was about to suggest a needle date but then I guess Dio is already good to go

[Tarsun2]

nice. i used to live in NJ but work in NY. ive since moved to PA

[Snowdawgy]

Admit it you are a Russian Spy.

[Axel]

I got one that's pure curiosity. I assume the serum isn't -92F when they inject it into your arm, but is it still at a cooler temperature? Any weird sensations at injection compared to, say, a flu vaccine?

Also, how come vaccines used to get injected into the gluteal muscles but that doesn't seem to ever be the case anymore? Can I get it that way by special request?

[Diomedes]

They warm it up first, I don't how high, but it didn't feel different from any other shot.

No idea, but it can't hurt to ask?

[Flounder]

IV vs IM injection info

Intramuscular injections may be used instead of intravenous injections because some drugs are irritating to veins, or because a suitable vein can't be located. It may be used instead of oral delivery because some drugs are destroyed by the digestive system when a drug is swallowed.

[dukie]

its frowned upon now since they figured out the doctors just wanted a look at your ass.

[Tarsun2]

From my understanding, they take an icicle loaded with the serum, and stab you in the heart with it.
Wait, i might be thinking of "the rock" with Sean Connery.
Scratch that.

[Nish]

Thank you for answering all these questions!