San Diego City Wire

The long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine is about to be released for distribution, and 600 San Diego County residents participated in a vaccine trial with drug company and producer Pfizer. 

Half of the participants were given a placebo and half were given the real vaccine, NBC 7 San Diego reported.

Rich Schwartz, one of the participants in the trial, told NBC that he thought that it would be a good way to help get the vaccine developed at a time when it was so desperately needed. Schwartz and his wife were given two doses in July and were instructed to follow up with any symptoms. They were given a second dose after three weeks. It was at this point in the trial that participants began to report adverse reactions, ranging from mild to severe. 

Diana Schwartz noted to NBC that she experienced symptoms of nausea and a headache, but that the symptoms never worsened or developed into a fever or cough. 

The couple told NBC they were happy that they took part in the trials and that they believed it was a way to contribute and do their part. 

The Schwartzes were asked to come back for antibodies testing over the next two years. The visits are planned to happen after six, 12 and 24 months. 

Pfizer’s next group of trial participants will be younger, ranging in ages from 12 to 17.

CBS reported that the drug company, which has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the vaccine, will begin distributing the vaccine throughout the nation. San Diego County will receive 28,000 vaccines, which will cover roughly 72% of health care workers in the county.

Following the vaccination of health care workers, nursing home residents will be in line for receiving the vaccine, after which other essential workers will be vaccinated.