A mother-of-two became the first person in the United States to get the first shot of an experimental coronavirus vaccine.
Researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle started the first-stage study of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“We’re team coronavirus now,” said Kaiser Permanente study leader Dr. Lisa Jackson. “Everyone wants to do what they can in this emergency.”
Jennifer Haller, a mother of two, said while waiting for the shot: “We all feel so helpless. This is an amazing opportunity for me to do something.”
The 43-year-old said her two teens “think it’s cool” that she is taking part in the study that would help the world.
After the shot, Jennifer left the exam room and said: “I’m feeling great.”
Three other people were next in line for the injection that will eventually give 45 volunteers two doses.
Even if it works well, the vaccine wouldn’t be available for everyone for 12 to 18 months, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the US National Institutes of Health said.
In a statement, Fauci said that finding a vaccine “is an urgent public health priority.” The new research, “launched in record speed, is an important first step toward achieving that goal.”
The potential vaccine was developed by the NIH and Moderna Inc. Volunteers could not get infected from the jabs as they don’t contain the coronavirus itself.
Many other research groups around the world are rushing to create a vaccine against the killer virus.
Another potential vaccine made by Inovio Pharmaceuticals is expected to start its own safety study in April.
Dr. Jackson said that “going from not even knowing that this virus was out there … to have any vaccine” in testing in a couple of months is unprecedented.
Researchers will draw blood samples to check if the jab is enhancing the immune system.
“We don’t know whether this vaccine will induce an immune response, or whether it will be safe. That´s why we´re doing a trial,” Dr. Jackson said. “It´s not at the stage where it would be possible or prudent to give it to the general population.”
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