[ad_1]
Dan McAteer describes his reaction more as a feeling of relief than elation when his phone rang on Monday morning with a push alert that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine was up to 90% effective.
Several months after becoming one of thousands of volunteers in the Covid-19 vaccine trials, the 23-year-old student is trying to understand the news that people could be vaccinated as early as next month.
“The main thing is not to hope too much, especially after the ups and downs of this year, but there is an underlying relief that this nightmare may finally be over,” he said.
Producing academic work within the locked-out deadlines was not easy. “Doing a year-long master’s degree from your bedroom is something I don’t recommend,” said McAteer, who had no unwanted side effects for a first month of journaling and beyond.
While being somewhat jaded and worried about the ability of the British government not to rush the deployment of the vaccine – “it will take confidence and efficiency” – he adds in another breath: “In all honesty, it is really a beautiful day and, dare I say it, things can only get better.
He is particularly proud that the Oxford breakthrough can open the door to a cheaper and more easily transportable solution – compared to some of the other vaccine candidates – to be made available to some of the poorest countries in the world.
“I think there has been a little too much attention on the UK and the talk has been all about what it can do for us. But in some ways, the most important aspect of this vaccine is what it can do for developing countries, and I think that’s really something to be proud of.
McAteer is still not sure whether he received the actual vaccine or a placebo, but anticipates that this information will be released soon and would gladly accept the offer to receive the vaccine if it appears he does not yet have it.
Another Oxford volunteer celebrating quietly on Monday was Sarah Hurst, who said she was pleasantly surprised not to have felt a negative impact since the first injection in June on the trial.
She had been keen to participate, she said, adding: “I was in the area to do it and during the lockdown there were so many people who couldn’t do anything but stay at home. house, so I was happy to be able to play a role.
“There have been indications that he will not be blinded but I understand that they will want to continue the trial to see how effective it is and I will probably choose to continue,” added the 47-year-old journalist, who lives with her 12 year old daughter and her 70 year old mother.
Like McAteer, she also highlighted the benefits of the Oxford vaccine, such as its ability to remain potent with limited need for specialized storage in a refrigerator.
“I love that this vaccine is portable and can be manufactured inexpensively. Distribution will be crucial, but I think the people who should get it first should be key workers. “
[ad_2]
Source link