Had my first visit for the Moderna Trial yesterday. The plan was to spend a couple hours on paperwork, discussions about the process and return next week for the first dose of the placebo or vaccine. I asked if we could do both on the first visit and this was ok (after some consultations with all the staff).
We spent two hours going over the paperwork and the process of the trial. I also got an app for my phone to report my temperature and symptoms, if any, daily for 7 days after the first injections and then weekly. After the second injection, this sequence is repeated. After that, there was the blood draw, a total of 8 vials. Then, I got the injection and sat around for 30 minutes waiting to see if I grew a third eye or some other immediate reaction. So far, all I have experienced is a pretty sore shoulder, similar to what I experienced with my latest flu shot. Wether that means I got the placebo or vaccine, is unknown.
One thing that may not have been noted before is that as the trial lasts two years, in the event the Moderna vaccine (or any other vaccine(s)) are approved for general release, I can obtain the approved vaccine. If I got a placebo in this trial, and Moderna has been approved, I can get the actual vaccine. If one of the other potentials is approved, I can take that one if I choose. How this will work out is hazy to both the Folks conducting the trial and me but I don’t have to wait two years for the Moderna trial to complete if one is approved before.
This first visit was one of a total of some seven over the two years. Each has a stipend attached. Yesterday I recieved a reloadable debit card with $125 for the first combo visit. There’s varying stipends for wellness phone calls, the two injections, regular visits and other contacts. Nice but not the reason to participate
More to post as the time passes.
Cheers