I've been accepted on the COVID-19 Vaccine Trial

[roses2]

I've been offered a place on the COVID-19 trial being run by Imperial College.

I'm a little nervous and still debating whether or not to accept. I'm female, BAME and I have two children.

Help me make a decision! What should I do?

[Fifthtimelucky]

Thanks for doing this OP.

I looked into the trials that are going in but unfortunately I don't live near any of the three centres and I'm also too old.

I would absolutely volunteer for this if the trials are widened at a later stage.

[noblegiraffe]

It normally takes four years of vigorous testing.

Every new drug/vaccine has to go through Phase I testing on healthy human volunteers.

[Indigocassarole]

Lots of ‘oh I would but ..’

Your two children are more important than any random on the internet urging you on when they are not even doing it themselves.

[mynameiscalypso]

@Cornettoninja I was also totally talking out of my arse and based on Wikipedia so I'm glad we came to the same conclusions 😂

[roses2]

Why did I apply? Because I'm healthy, rarely get sick and not too worried. I asked if I experience side effects such as fever do my whole household need to isolate and they confirmed no as long as the fever doesn't persist more than 48 hours. The trial site is 3 miles from my house so easy to get to.

Only major concern is any long term effects - will it cause mutation of genes; make me die early etc etc. All the normal concerns around a new vaccine trial.

[Indigocassarole]

Every new drug/vaccine has to go through Phase I testing on healthy human volunteers

Yeah after years worth of investigating and testing.

[mynameiscalypso]

I don't think, for some people, it's a case of It would but...'. Some of the reasons people have cited are reasons why you're not allowed to take part on the trial and lying about underlying health conditions in order to participate is just going to mess up the results and hinder rather than help.

[noblegiraffe]

Yeah after years worth of investigating and testing.

Only if starting from absolute scratch and it doesn’t look like they are.

[Lindy2]

If you decide to go ahead - thank you for helping everyone in the fight against the virus.

It's a very personal decision. I can see the advantages and disadvantages. I'm parent to a SEN child. I think if I didn't have her to think of I would volunteer. They have developed so many vaccines in the past that I would be confident it was safe. I would think it is just whether it works to protect well enough against Covid that needs to be confirmed.

[mynameiscalypso]

You also only have a 50% chance of being given the vaccine - I think half the group are getting a placebo.

[BakedCam]

Well done, OP..

Have you had a clinical assessment and discussion on side effects? Has your GP approved your application? Did the Oxford team apply for your records?

[BakedCam]

50% of the group will be given the meningitis vaccine.

[Gtugccbjb]

You’re fucking crazy

[CrystalTipped]

You’re fucking crazy

Lucky not everyone has that mindset or there would be no vaccines. And a much smaller world population.

[SMJYellow]

If I was living in the UK, I would definitely go down the route of this. Although I don't think I would pass the screening. I don't have any known underlining condition but I am overweight and I think overweight obese is a risk factor. My bmi is 38 or so.

I would do it, for sure. If there was a lab or work like this being done in my home country, I would do it. I think, I would be better off getting a low viral dose in a controlled environment where I would be monitored and then I can come home and behave like Florence nightingale for my dying village.

For anyone doing this, I would like to say thank you and wishing you all the very best.

[Oceangirl82]

Well done OP and thank you 😊

As for those saying you could leave your child motherless, you risk that everyday by just living!

[rosiepony]

How much are you being paid?

[jay55]

Given you have two kids I'd be reluctant, but I can see feeling the need to do something for your community. Clearly the vaccine needs to be tested on a diverse group.

Best of luck either way.

[Cornettoninja]

Do you get told much about it? I just wondered if they’ve modified something that’s been previously researched for SARS/MERS. That may mean it’d had already been through some testing stages theoretically.

I appreciate that’s far too vague to hinge your decision right now on though. It really comes down to your gut.

What does your family think? I do think that needs to be part of your decision making process even if it’s not a huge factor. They will have their own fall out in worst case scenarios.

[Fishcakey]

If you do it you are both brave and brilliant. If you don't then nobody will think any worse of you!

[mindutopia]

Thanks for doing this. I think it's great. I absolutely would do it if I could. Though I'm on the vulnerable list so not even going out anywhere at the moment, so I probably wouldn't be eligible.

But I do work in clinical research and we do these sorts of trials all the time. There are a lot of safety precautions put in place. I did a vaccine trial myself years ago (for an HIV vaccine - sadly, wasn't effective, this was a phase 2 trial) and it was a great experience. No negative effects at all (though I think I did manage to traumatise the research nurse because I am horrendous to draw blood from and they had to take a lot of blood at each appointment).

[Eeyoresstickhouse]

The vaccine that they genetically changed has been tested thoroughly before this trial. It has also been trialled extensively in animals. I am just out of the catchment for our local trial but I would have no issues signing up if I was allowed. In fact I even emailed Southampton to say I am just out of catchment but if they extend it I am very interested.

[torthecatlady]

Personally, I would do it but it depends on your circumstances. How much are they paying?

[PineappleDanish]

Take a look at the corruption, this clip is just the tip of the ice burg

Or step away from the tin foil hat people and trust scientists? most of whom can spell iceberg

Well done you. I'd volunteer too but take daily medication so am assuming that'd rule me out.