Jocelyn Edwards was unsure whether to use Moderna Inc.’s Covid-19 experimental vaccine. or a placebo when she got her first of two doses in August. Hours after the second shot, she said for sure it was the genuine article.
“I woke up freezing at midnight,” said the 68-year-old retired nurse. “For the next 24 hours I had intense chills, severe neck pain, headache, all my joints ached.” She had a fever that peaked at 102.4 and was pouring out so much sweat that she lost 3 pounds, she said. The next day she woke up feeling fine.
Ms. Edwards, like the other 30,000 volunteers enrolled in Phase 3 clinical trials for Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, was not told whether she received the vaccine or a placebo. However, she said a trial researcher attributed her symptoms to her body building a strong immune response to what was most likely the vaccine. “It’s better to be really rough for 36 hours than to get Covid,” she said.
Moderna declined to comment on this article.
Since the first vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE rolls out this week and as Moderna’s following appears poised to reach people soon, some Americans have voiced concerns about vaccination. A concern are possible side effects. While the data shows that some Moderna and Pfizer trial volunteers experienced side effects, even those with harsh responses recommend the shots.