novavax vaccine trial - anyone else?

[Frazzled2207]

Have just had the call and am going tomorrow. Very excited. Anyone else doing this?

@Centenaryboi were you at C&W?

The consultant looked through all my stuff too and didn't seem to chat to anyone else in my bay. I think I was the only one having the initial injection at that point though, so maybe that was why. She also took my side effects feedback on my second visit and asked lots of questions.

They do need people to be exposed to the virus, I guess, as that is how they will know if it is effective

Did you? It crossed my mind to buy some but didn't have any idea how to do so!

I've been unblinded on the trial as I was offered the vaccine through work yesterday. I was absolutely stunned to find out I've had the real vaccine! Other than a heavy arm I didn't have any side effects at all. I'll be very interested in the efficacy data when its released. Since getting the phone call, I have felt my stress levels definitely fall a notch or two.

That's really good to know that you had no major side effects and actually had the vaccine!

@RhubarbBikini
brilliant
As i have said before I'd be astonished if I had it as I didn't even have a sore arm.

Potentially tricky situation coming up - I've volunteered to help out at a vaccination centre locally. Not going imminently but hopefully starting in the next month or so. Anecdotally volunteers are sometimes offered 'spares' at the end of the shift when there are no shows. I wouldn't do anything without checking with the team but if volunteering at a centre I'd be an idiot not be protected right? If it turns out I'd had it (unlikely I think) then great but otherwise I suppose I'd have to exit the trial. Is it more important to stay in the trial or help out at a centre locally (I'd really like to do this) and potentially have to exit the trial?

I don't know. If I was being mercenary I'd say that they will be able to replace you as a volunteer but not on the trial, but I understand that you want to help, and this is also an opportunity to potentially get the vaccination early. My sister is running a clinic and although they have low DNA there are some. Especially if you think there's a low chance you've had the active Novavax. I think sometimes you have the put your own interests first.

I would go for being unblinded, frankly. If you have had the vaccine, I guess you can continue in the trial. If not, you will at least have the chance for a vaccine which means you can help more people through your volunteering.

[quote Frazzled2207]@RhubarbBikini
brilliant
As i have said before I'd be astonished if I had it as I didn't even have a sore arm.

Potentially tricky situation coming up - I've volunteered to help out at a vaccination centre locally. Not going imminently but hopefully starting in the next month or so. Anecdotally volunteers are sometimes offered 'spares' at the end of the shift when there are no shows. I wouldn't do anything without checking with the team but if volunteering at a centre I'd be an idiot not be protected right? If it turns out I'd had it (unlikely I think) then great but otherwise I suppose I'd have to exit the trial. Is it more important to stay in the trial or help out at a centre locally (I'd really like to do this) and potentially have to exit the trial?[/quote]
I'm in exactly the same boat.

Have you decided what to do? And if you were offered a spare, do you know how quickly your trial team could unblind you?

@AVictoryProduct
pleased it's not just me. No not yet as I have to jump through all kinds of training hoops first which is going to take a while - I have next bloods taken at the beginning of feb which is another step forward in the trial and there might be someone to ask when I'm there. Then regarding being unblinded it would appear you can only do this if you have an actual appointment, which is unlikely to happen. Perhaps I'm talking well ahead of myself - I don't know for sure I would be offered it and that is certainly not why I applied. I am 42 and healthy but DH has pointed out that I have the whole household including young kids to consider here. He thinks I've done my bit with the trial and should leave it there if there are plenty of volunteers available, which it would appear there are (but I really want to get out and do something else useful - been sat at home now for nearly a year!)

Where are you at?

(PS I def would not take any vaccine without checking with the team as I know having two is potentially not safe)

@Daftapath

I would go for being unblinded, frankly. If you have had the vaccine, I guess you can continue in the trial. If not, you will at least have the chance for a vaccine which means you can help more people through your volunteering.

Also I'm hoping that even if I get unblinded, had the placebo and I have my blood test at the beginning of feb - assume they could use the 'info' on me up to that date, rather than deleting me entirely! If anyone else knows this, would be good to be reassured.

I’m volunteering at a vaccine centre. We are completely inundated with volunteers and a lot of them haven’t even managed to get onto a shift yet. If it were me, I would stay in the trial rather than volunteer.

We have had some leftover vaccines but very very few and it is prioritised by the actual priority groups, so I wouldn’t expect to be offered one unless you are a frontline health and social care worker or over 70. Also, as it is leftover and needs to be used up (often within 20 minutes or so as it really is the end of the batch and must be used up before it expires), you have to decide straightaway.

I am going to continue being on the trial in so far that I continue to go along to let them take blood samples.

I was really impressed at how quick the unblinding process was - it took about 12 minutes in total. I phoned and was told my details would be passed to a doctor for a call back. The call was made less than 10 minutes later.

The longest part of the process was the triple checking of my personal details to ensure they didn't accidentally give me the wrong results.

I do feel slightly guilty about it though - to have have received two doses when so many vulnerable people are still not certain when they'll get their first dose

@Jerble
That’s extremely useful to know thank you. Are you also in a vaccine trial?
@RhubarbBikini
Def do not feel guilty. Every single person that gets a vaccine only does so because enough people participated in a trial.

No, I’m not in a vaccine trial but did sign up to the register and would love to have been invited.

Brilliant news rhubarb
I agree that you shouldn't feel guilty. Trials are how there are vaccines, and you were willing to take a risk and join a trial.

@Jerble

No, I’m not in a vaccine trial but did sign up to the register and would love to have been invited.

well, really pleased you're able to help in another way. As I have discovered, doing both is not straightforward. are you optimistic that there will be a vaccine for you? (assuming you're not over 70) IMO everyone helping out should get it soon, although obviously things aren't that straightforward

@Frazzled2207

At my last visit I was given a leaflet that says "If you choose to be unblinded, you may still continue in the trial. You may also withdraw from the trial at any time. Whatever you decide, we ask that participants continue with trial apppointments, so that we can continue to gather important safety information and follow up with you."

My situation is very similar to yours. I am also 42 and very keen to do something and get out of the house. I have also heard that people at the centre I may volunteer at have been offered vaccines that "would have gone in the bin." My partner is also not keen on me doing it! AND, like you, I am convinced I've had the placebo because I had zero side effects, not even a sore or heavy arm. I know the vaccine centred near me has offered spare doses at the end of the day to pretty much anyone in the NHS or the over 75's. I don't know about volunteers.

From what @Jerble says, it sounds unlikely you will be offered a vaccine and have time to ring the trial and be unblinded? I guess it's possible?

It's tricky. I'm still undecided.

ah I didn't get that leaflet. As far as I understood it if unblinded I could only continue in the trial if I had the vaccine.
However I guess it's true that I could be unblinded, know i didn't have it , and carry on. But I can't see how I could continue in the trial if I went to get another vaccine by another means.

I think it's best that I try and have a chat with someone when I go at the beginning of feb. Usually when I go the lead doctor for the hospital is around.

Reassuring that I'm not the only one with this conundrum!

Which route are you taking to volunteer? I have applied through St John Ambulance and the training is quite long winded (and probably irrelevant - safeguarding, H&S, fire safety etc) . I am half way through the e-learning, once i've done that I have to schedule face to face training but have no indication of when or if that will be available in my immediate area. So nothing is happening very quickly.

@Frazzled2207

That sounds like a sensible plan. I know what you mean, it's hard to know how useful we will be if we have another vaccine. My leaflet does say "whatever you decide, we ask participants to continue with trial appointments." So maybe we will still be useful in some way?

I guess it is good for you that nothing is happening quickly, it gives you time to mull it over.

I'm going down the local volutary sector umbrella organisation route. It's a non clinical role. They are sorting my DBS check and then I have some online training to do. I've signed up for the St John Ambulance and GoodSam app too, but I haven't had any luck with either of those yet.

I'm on the brink of emailing the vol sect org to ask them to pause my application though. I think I might actually have enough on with a full time job, kids and other stuff! I know I'd love helping and seeing all those people get vaccinated, but I'm thinking I need to focus on my family and hang on until lockdown is eased for my mental health boost.

Blimey a full time job too! I think you have enough on your plate. I’m only working very pt at the moment hence want to do something useful on weekends/evenings when I can leave DH in charge of the kids.

Yes I have been incredibly lucky to get a leftover dose. This was because I was involved in our vaccination centre from the beginning, when everyone was new to it including vaccinators, and we were short of volunteers initially so the same group of people were there every day. Eventually all the initial group got vaccinated. However, now we have a lot of new volunteers and the clinic is more accurate in estimating how many doses they’ll have each day, so there is little leftover. Initially, as all the vaccinators were new, they needed experience to be able to get 6 doses from each vial instead of 5. Now they are confident they can do it, more appointments are being booked for patients and less is unexpectedly leftover.

In case not known - the official dosage is 5 doses per vial. But it was found that if you are very accurate in preparing/drawing it, you can get exactly 6 doses. Not all vaccinators can do it and doesn’t work every time, so often it’s only a half-dose leftover which can’t be used. Obviously the vials are prepared to make sure they can get the 5 doses from each one so the 6th is a real bonus.