'I Wanted To Do Something,' Says Mother Of 2 Who Is First To Test Coronavirus Vaccine

[Steelrolled]

Source: NPR

March 21, 20207:44 AM ET

When Jennifer Haller heard that researchers were looking for volunteers to be injected with an experimental coronavirus vaccine, the Seattle mother of two rolled up her sleeve.

Well, not literally. Haller, 43, the first person to receive the vaccine, was wearing a tank top when a pharmacist, sheathed in gloves, a mask and protective eye gear, injected her with an experimental vaccine named mRNA-1273. It made her arm a bit sore, "but besides that, no, no side effects," she says.

With the outbreak rapidly spreading across the nation, Haller says she was excited to enroll in the Phase 1 trial, which started Monday.

"I wanted to do something because there's so many millions of Americans that don't have the same privileges that I've been given," says Haller, who now works from home for a small tech company. "They're losing their jobs. They are concerned about paying bills, feeding their family."

Vaccines typically take years to develop and bring to market. They go through extensive animal trials to ensure they are not only effective, but safe. But as the coronavirus death toll rapidly climbed — reaching 11,147 on Friday — researchers felt they couldn't wait.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/21/818759617/i-wanted-to-do-something-says-mother-of-2-who-is-first-to-test-coronavirus-vacci

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. I guess I'm the only person who recalls what a fiasco

the rushed swine flu vaccine was in 1976.

[Steelrolled]

2. Hopefully we've learned a lot since then.

But it is true that the the early volunteers for this coronavirus vaccine are taking a higher risk than usual.

[paleotn]

5. Courage, I call it.

They're doing it for us.

[Steelrolled]

6. Exactly. And there will be many stories like this in the days ahead.

[sandensea]

3. I remember reading of it school - and of course that infamous photo

I bet they gave him a saline solution.

[paleotn]

4. Don't have a choice. And this isn't influenza.

There's no question about the bug we're up against. It was quickly isolated and it's genome sequenced in days. The stuff of science fiction in the mid 70's. The development of vaccines has come light years since then.

[Evolve Dammit]

7. Ford was too numb to react if they stuck it in his eye. Although he'd be fresh air today...

[groundloop]

8. Remember, at this point they're not testing whether or not the vaccine works....

only whether or not it's safe.

There's still a long, long way to go before any new vaccine is ready for widespread use, no matter what tRump tries to tell us from his daily cult gathering.

[Steelrolled]

12. This will be the one where they will pull out all the stops

It still has to be very safe, but I imagine they will do whatever is possible to speed it along

[Igel]

13. And yet you know that they'll be keeping data.

Who has it, and what their infection rate is.

And while they're saying "18 months", it's like me saying, "Absolutely, schools are scheduled to open around here on 4/13!"

As with other trials, if it has a large effect early they'll cut short the trials; if it's dangerous early, they'll scrap them. One side emphasizes risk and wants to keep hopes down; the other emphasizes hope and wants to keep fears down.

[iluvtennis]

9. She's very courageous. Thank you Jennifer Haller.

[Canoe52]

10. This lady has balls, and my deepest respect. Thank you Jennifer!

[lagomorph777]

11. She'll be deservedly famous as a heroine.