CINCINNATI — At least 100 patients at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center could be contributing to flattening the coronavirus curve on a national -- or international -- level.
"That sounds really cool, and I’m happy to know that I could actually be saving many lives," said Abhinav, a patient at Children's who is volunteering as a test subject for a COVID-19 vaccine, currently in the works at pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Abhinav's father asked that we withhold his last name to protect his medical privacy.
Abhinav said he received his first dose of the trial vaccine three weeks ago.
"I got a COVID test nose swab, and then I got the blood test, and then I got the shot" he told WCPO.
Monday, Abhinav's family heard Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla announce that his company's vaccine is proving to be 90% effective, according to early data.
"I believe this is likely the most significant medical advance in the last hundred years, right, if you count the impact that this will have in the health of, the public health, global economy, etc.," Bourla told CNBC Monday.
Across the U.S., more than 43,000 people have taken part in this study. Some received the trial vaccine; others received a placebo.
"I’m not entirely sure if I got the placebo or the vaccine. The shot really felt like, you know, normal. So judging by that I’m guessing I got the vaccine, because generally most kids do," Abhinav said.
Bourla said scientists will monitor participants for the next three years. The company plans to seek emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations later this month.
