USA Today: Why volunteer for a vaccine clinical trial? Duty, love and a willingness to experiment, participants say
First patient dosed in UC/UC Health vaccine trial says his son was a major motivation to volunteer
In a story about people who volunteer for COVID-19 vaccine trials, USA Today featured Jarelle Marshall, a 37-year-old IT professional from Cincinnati. He was the first patient to be dosed as part of the UC and UC Health trial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial.
A UC pharmacist prepares a dose for the COVID-19 vaccine trial. Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Creative + Brand
Marshall said his 14-year-old son was a big part of his motivation to volunteer. "I always tell my son that what matters is what you do when people aren't looking," he said.
That's why when a friend asked him to participate in the trial, he didn't hesitate long. First, he asked for more information, which he forwarded to another friend, a doctor, to ask for advice. The doctor sent him a long text, telling him what to expect in the trial and why volunteers were important. Then came the kicker: Researchers need African-Americans like you.
Read the entire article here, and read more about the UC/UC Health COVID-19 vaccine trial here.
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