Jennifer Haller is the first woman to volunteer to test the first covid-19 vaccine. A real heroine!
Originally from Seattle, USA, a 43-year-old mother, Jennifer Haller truly made history by becoming the first volunteer to test the Covid-19 vaccine still in development. She responded to the call from the Kaiser Permanente Washington research institute. The latter is currently seeking to evaluate the first treatment developed to overcome the coronavirus. After examinations and blood tests, Jennifer Haller was finally selected to receive the vaccine. It is therefore a little hope that appears in these moments so dark and disturbing for all. She will thus keep a diary for several weeks in order to detail her state of health daily.
"I am not afraid"
Jennifer Haller confided in Refinery29. She explains seeing in this volunteering a way to help scientific research, on its scale: "I was looking for a way to help my ladder, so I filled out the form right away. The next day, I got a call to review my medical history." But what are the risks for Jennifer Haller? Because, in fact, this developing vaccine has never been tested on a human being before. Therefore, the side effects that it could have its little known by the medical profession. But Jennifer Haller says that, in her eyes, it's worth taking the risk: "The potential progress that this test offers is much more important than it could happen to me, even if I face the worst possible outcome. I am a positive person and I do not really focus on the possible consequences I'm not afraid. " If you have needed optimistic waves lately, the courage of Jennifer Haller could therefore do you a lot of good.
If Jennifer Haller is a real heroine, scientific progress will take some time. Indeed, we will have to be patient. First, there is time to see the effects that this vaccine has on it. This is why keeping a logbook is important, not counting the recurrent blood tests that she will have to do. Then Jennifer will receive a second dose of the vaccine 28 days after the first dose. In addition, in addition to Jennifer Haller, other tests of the vaccine will be planned on hundreds of volunteers.
"This is a race against the virus"
John Tregoning, an expert at Imperial College London, said: "It has been manufactured to very high standards, using things which we know are safe for humans and those taking part in the trial will be very closely monitored " adding that it is "of a race against the virus."
It is a long process but it could well get things done and, most importantly, save lives around the world. It takes several months, 18 months according to the BBC, before the vaccine is ready for distribution. What we remember most is the heroism of Jennifer Haller and all those who will follow this approach to help scientific research.