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What It’s Like to Participate in a Covid-19 Vaccine Trial
Judy Stokes and Ian Haydon, who are mother and son, are both participating in different phases of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial
One of the most highly watched events in the pandemic is the ongoing Covid-19 vaccine race, and for Ian Haydon, 29, of Seattle and Judy Stokes, 69, of Sacramento it’s a family affair. Both Haydon and Stokes are participating in clinical trials for Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.
Moderna was the first drug company to begin human testing of its Covid-19 vaccine in the U.S. The company’s vaccine is a so-called RNA vaccine. This means that the vaccine, which is two doses, contains a small piece of genetic material, called messenger RNA (mRNA) that produces viral proteins that help the body spur an immune response.
Haydon, a science communications manager at the University of Washington, is a phase 1 trial participant — which is the stage where the drug company is testing whether the vaccine is safe. Stokes, a health writer, is in the phase 3 stage of the trial, which means the company is studying whether their vaccine works.
Elemental caught up with the pair and discussed what it’s like to partake in a Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial and what…
