Participant details AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine trial in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — There are several COVID-19 vaccine trials underway in Orlando.

One Orlando man who’s taking part in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine trial said there are some serious side effects found in three volunteers.

He went through the trial Tuesday and said he is feeling a little more tired than usual Wednesday and has a headache. But nothing serious.

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Two out of every three volunteers for the AstraZeneca trial will receive a vaccine for COVID-19. The others will get a placebo shot.

In the AstraZeneca trial, volunteers come back for a second booster shot in four weeks.

Dr. James Goldenberg with JEM Headlands Research in Palm Beach said it’s been much easier to get people involved with the COVID-19 clinical trial than for other diseases they have no experience with.

Part of the consent form mentions three cases where participants in the trial ended up with significant side effects.

The first had an unknown underlying health condition, the second is under investigation, and the third received the placebo shot.

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“They had a neurologic symptoms, and the conclusion was they had a condition called transverse myelitis, or inflammation, the spinal cord,” said Goldenberg. “That condition comes from many different causes.”

Goldenberg said the immune system can react adversely to any vaccine or virus. But he said it should not be a reason for people to avoid a trial.

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The volunteer Channel 9 spoke with said they were paid $175 for the first shot, will receive $120 for the second and $50 for any check ups in the future.

Cox Media Group