This is me, taking part in a covid19 vaccine trial. Concerns about the vaccine effort are widespread and cross party lines. The best cure for mis-information is solid advice, delivered even-handedly, from a trusted source. I challenge my science tweeps to take up this mantle. 1/

There are many reasons why folks have vaccine reservations: concerns that testing was rushed; pharmaceutical company conspiracies; disbelief in the COVID19 pandemic; the real historical maltreatment of minorities by medical practitioners... they are not unreasonable. 2/

As a biomedical scientist of 25 years, I am fortunate to have the training to make a deeply informed decision about participation in a trial. The decision to participate was personal, but I am making my experience public to help address the public fear of vaccines. Please RT. 3/

The available data on the leading vaccines convince me of their general safety, especially when considered in the context daily toll in lives and living. They are based on sound science and they are undergoing rigorous clinical evaluation in 10’s of thousands of volunteers. 4/

I should know because I’m one of them. I don’t know if I received the vaccine or a placebo – there is a 67% chance I’ve been vaccinated. In my case, there were essentially no side effects – just some mild soreness at the injection site, like with any injection. 5/

I received the 1st shot two weeks ago and will get another in two more weeks. I’ve been logging daily symptom checks and have given blood to look for antibody levels. I will continue to provide data for up to two years in order to study long-term outcomes and safety signals. 6/

Why did I participate? The faster vaccines are available, the sooner this pandemic ends. Every three days, twice as many die of COVID19 in the US as did in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Many more are injured long-term and millions have lost their livelihoods. 7/

Why am I sharing this? Because uptake of the vaccine will soon become the single most important factor in ending this pandemic. The faster we achieve high uptake, the more lives will be saved. NOW is the time begin combatting misinformation. 8/

If you are the 1st one to receive a 95% effective vaccine, your risk only goes down 20x. BUT, if everyone around you gets vaccinated, the virus can no longer propagate and your personal risk plummets to near zero. You can’t get infected by a virus if no one has the virus. 9/

Actions speak louder than words, so I’m hoping that my participation will help combat misinformation and fear of the COVID19 vaccine. Pls share widely if you can. If you have questions about my experience or about covid vaccines in general, ask I will try my best to answer. 10/10