Dangers of Volunteering for COVID vaccine trial!

NotTooOld

I am aware that it is not possible to get Covid from the vaccine but Cindersdad would presumably be mixing with other people who may already be infected, either at the trial venue or travelling to the trial venue. Mrs Cindersdad has a point.

I agree.
Those who live with someone who is shielding on advice from the CMO also have to be extremely careful.

Besides which, if Cindersdad was also shielding because of this, then there would be no point in taking part in the trial.

I do admire those who have and are taking part.
However, I am surprised that anyone who has a partner who is clinically vulnerable was chosen for the trial.

he remains as fit and healthy as ever - and he has had two jabs in the last 3 months vaccine trials

That is good news. However, Mrs Cinders is not fit and healthy she is clinically vulnerable and shielding. If Cindersdad shields with her, as advised by the CMO, his participation in the trial will be of no use anyway.

I am clinically vulnerable, have had many letters, emails, phone calls etc. telling me to be careful but I was invited to travel to Liverpool to take part in trials! The letter came from our GP's surgery.

Well, I'm now.

Hondaboy

Have you got money invested in the other vaccine companies but not AstraZeneca?

Callistemon

^he remains as fit and healthy as ever - and he has had two jabs in the last 3 months vaccine trials^

That is good news. However, Mrs Cinders is not fit and healthy she is clinically vulnerable and shielding. If Cindersdad shields with her, as advised by the CMO, his participation in the trial will be of no use anyway.

Agree, total waste.
Although want to thank anyone who wants to help the fight, suitable or not.

No live virus is used in any of the trials. It is impossible for anyone to get COVID by testing the vaccine or for anyone else to catch a disease from someone who has not had it themselves.

If Mr Cinders takes part in a vaccine trial, he cannot give the virus or anything else to his wife, because none of the trials uses live virus. his wife is far far more likely to be seriously ill because she has caught the virus itself than supposing she has picked up anything from her DH because he has taken part in a trial.

the sooner the vaccine is over and administered the sooner we can return to normal life.

We do know all that, Monica.

Where has anyone said that they believe the vaccine is live and that someone else can catch it from someone who has had the vaccine?

Going out and about freely, including taking part in trials, means coming into contact with people who may have the virus and enhances the risk of passing it on to a partner who is shielding because they are clinically vulnerable.

It is an added risk for Mrs Cinders and one which is not necessary as there are many people willing to volunteer, thank goodness.

Never mind, give her a cup of tea or coffee, even some nice biscuits and explain to her she must think of the greater good even if she has been told to shield and stay away from everyone and that anyone she lives with has to be extra cautious.

As others have said I would think you potentially exposing yourself to covid might be the main issue, and as you might get the placebo or the vaccine might not work that would put your wife at extra risk, if you are shielding with your wife to protect her then your participation in the trial won't be much use.

I would sooner risk the vaccination than the disease.

I think you're missing the point I was making M0nica
(Not like you )

Most of us would risk the vaccine rather than the risk of catching covid but volunteering to test the vaccine, when you are living with someone who is shielding, is not a good idea imo simply because it means going out more, mixing with the community more, with all the risks that entails. I can understand why Mrs Cinders is concerned.

Many of us will be glad to have a well tested vaccine and are grateful to the volunteers who are willing to trial it on our behalf.

Callistemon Volunteering for the Oxford vaccine required only 3 short visits, 1 for assessment, 2 for the jabs. All took place in a separate building on a hospital site where contact with other people was minimal and hospital levels of protection were used. After that, each week DH had to take a swab at home, fill in a form and post it back.

I do not think that the risk to a shielded person is very high. under those circumstances and he would be helping to free the shielded person, plus there is a 50:50 chance he would be becoming COVID protected himself.

Fair points, M0nica.

MrsCinders sounds very anxious but perhaps understandably so.