Read on Twitter
Thread on @pfizer vaccine.
Three months & 16 days later, I just got the actual vaccine:
1. I am enormously grateful to have gotten my first shot & already scheduled for my second.
2. I remain in the #Pfizer trial. This means that today's visit took almost 2 full hours.
1/7 https://twitter.com/thehowie/status/1301155414206230528
Three months & 16 days later, I just got the actual vaccine:
1. I am enormously grateful to have gotten my first shot & already scheduled for my second.
2. I remain in the #Pfizer trial. This means that today's visit took almost 2 full hours.
1/7 https://twitter.com/thehowie/status/1301155414206230528
Why did I get the shot through Pfizer, rather than just defaulting to my employer?
They will continue to collect info on me. They consented me, drew blood, took another covid test. I will have more tests in January. I will continue to fill out my diary.
2/7
They will continue to collect info on me. They consented me, drew blood, took another covid test. I will have more tests in January. I will continue to fill out my diary.
2/7
Why did Pfizer need to un-blind (at my option, btw: I did not have to)?
1. Because their vaccine (and #Moderna) are so effective that it would be unethical to deny vaccination at this point.
2. Because I would have wanted (and my employer wanted me) to be vaccinated.
3/7
1. Because their vaccine (and #Moderna) are so effective that it would be unethical to deny vaccination at this point.
2. Because I would have wanted (and my employer wanted me) to be vaccinated.
3/7
Why continue in the trial?
1. This is what I & 30+K people signed up for.
2. There was risk (risk of a truly novel vaccine back then) & a lot of information collected: sustaining that serves the public good.
4/7
1. This is what I & 30+K people signed up for.
2. There was risk (risk of a truly novel vaccine back then) & a lot of information collected: sustaining that serves the public good.
4/7
Pfizer is offering Health Care Workers (HCWs) 1st chance to be unblinded, since they would most immediately face the prospect of this dilemma. They have indicated that they would then offer others same option ahead of place in line, not later than 6 months after 2nd "dose."
5/7
5/7
#Moderna appears ready to un-blind more quickly. This will, IMHO, force Pfizer to consider the same, pending Moderna authorization (perhaps today).
6/7
6/7
Biomedical ethics is not always clear yes/no decisions. In this case, there's public's interest in having longer term RCT data & competing interest to minimize harm (non-maleficence). I hope placebo trial participants stay in the trial (crossover) to serve both interests.
7/7
7/7
