Moderna coronavirus vaccine volunteer passed out, suffered from high fever after test [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A volunteer for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine tests says he got sick after trial and even fainted.
• The tester detailed his experience to CNN’s Anderson Cooper, saying that he was just cautious of the general public’s response to having vaccines.
• The CEO of Moderna said the results are promising with the initial tests after reports indicate the drug created sufficient levels of antibodies.

One of the volunteers for a significant COVID-19 vaccine trial said he felt the sickest during the test, but noted he is still hopeful for the drug’s potential against the virus.

The volunteer, 29-year old Ian Haydon, consistently said during interviews that he was one of the four volunteers who suffered from adverse reactions during the Moderna vaccine trials. The company picked Haydon for being potentially positive for the initial results of antibody reactions.

Haydon, a communications manager from Seattle, described to  STAT News that he began having chills just a few hours after being administered with the second dose, and he wakes up with fever shooting up to 103.2-degrees.

He also told the outlet that his girlfriend contacted Moderna’s 24-hour hotline for the volunteers after he complained of muscle ache and nausea. The medical personnel arrived at 5 a.m, but Haydon refused to be taken to a hospital, so he went back home was advised to take Tylenol.

Haydon said his girlfriend called the hotline again after he woke up with the same symptoms and had a temperature of 101.5, and this time he fainted after vomiting from the bathroom. 

After talking with doctors in the research, Haydon still chose to take rest at home, and at night, his fever finally dropped.

At first, Haydon tried to hide the full details of his sickness, and it was Anderson Cooper of CNN whom he told about the rough experience he undergoes for 24 hours.

In a series of tweets, Haydon said he was hesitant to share his story since because people may be reluctant later to have the vaccine. He further told STAT News that his experience might frighten some people, noting that he hopes the public won’t feel resentment towards vaccines in general.

The volunteer also admitted through Twitter that his dosage was 10x more potent than other testers, and he was told that it would be the only test.

Still optimistic, Haydon believed that clinical trials are not conducted to keep medicines in the safest levels, adding that what he suffered from was not life-threatening. He now feels fine and is hopeful for a vaccine breakthrough from their tests.

Moderna’s research was in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and it conducted tests with 45 patients from the ages of 18 to 55.

Initial analysis indicated that the drug produced antibodies which levels are either equal or surpassed those seen in COVID-19 recovered patients.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel commented to  Bloomberg that the reports are promising and still can be better.

Meanwhile, Moderna is yet to comment on the claims of Haydon.

Source: New York Post