Scientists Try a DIY COVID-19 Vaccine, but Its Effectiveness Remains Unproven
George Siber, former head of vaccines at Wyeth said, given the ingredients of the vaccine, and the way it is administered, which is through the nose, he is uncertain if it would be considered good enough to provide protection even if it is safe to use it.
Recent reports indicate that an unproven vaccine for COVID-19 had been distributed and tested by a group identified as Rapid Deployment Vaccine Collaborative or RADVAC.
However, an online medical technology review stated that no one knows if this particular vaccine is effective.
Specifically, a set of ingredients arrive via mail. The recipients prepare them either in their homes or laboratory. Indeed, the set is a do-it-yourself or DIY kit, but again, as the review said, its efficacy remains unproven.
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Unauthorized Vaccine
The said DIY vaccine for COVID-19 is a collaboration of over 20 scientists and science enthusiasts. Those parts of the collaboration from which, some of them are associated with the MIT and Harvard University reportedly did not ask for authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they devised the said vaccine.
The group also did not seek authorization from any ethics board before the project's launch.
More so, they volunteered to be their own trial subjects in what could be considered as an unofficial trial. Aside from unauthorized use and testing of the vaccine, the group reportedly distributed materials for the said treatment to dozens more, in their social circles.
The FDA did not respond immediately to queries if the effort could be considered legal. However, RADVAC chief scientist and founder, geneticist Preston Estep said, the FDA does not have control over the group's project as participants mix and administer the vaccines themselves without paying any fees in exchange.
It remains unseen whether the government agency is stepping up to control the project that more and more people have learned about, and considered taking the trial vaccine.
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Side Effects
Regardless of the effectiveness of the vaccine against COVID-19, experts claim that vaccines, more often than not, carry certain risks of side effects.
Previous science and health reports indicated the over 30 candidate vaccines for COVID-19 in authorized clinical tests are necessitated to undergo several series of efficiency and safety trails before they get approved.
In the early stages of the trial, developers of vaccines carefully observe for severe side effects occurring after administration of the vaccine.
Such side effects may include swelling, soreness, or redness at the part where the vaccine was administered, or even fever.
In advanced clinical tests, vaccine developers can monitor side effects that may appear when the vaccinated individual gets exposed to the COVID-19 in a real-world scenario.
Not the Best Idea
According to former head of vaccines at Wyeth George Siber, "Self experimenting with RADVAC vaccine is not the best idea." This is especially true in this situation, where things could even get worse by triggering the antibody-dependent enhancement or ADE side effect.
Additionally, given the ingredients of the vaccine, as well as its way of administration, which is through the nose, he is uncertain if the vaccine would be considered potent enough to provide protection even if it is safe to use it.
RADVAC published earlier this month, a white paper that detailed the recipe for the vaccine. It also included a disclaimer, stating that any individual using the information needs to be a consenting adult, resides in the U.S., and agrees to take full accountability for his use of the said information, vaccine, and materials needed to produce and administer the treatment.
Any individual who accesses the website also needs to acknowledge and agree that any use or application of the information there to devise and self-administer a substance is an act of self-experimentation, and thus, the legitimacy of which may vary depending on the location of residence.
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