A Halifax student taking part in a clinical trial to test an experimental Ebola vaccine says the experience has "totally, unexpectedly changed my life."
Emily Sollows, 22, received the vaccine in late November as part of a clinical trial conducted by the Canadian Center for Vaccinology.
She says she's been feeling fine since getting the shot and all her scheduled medical checkups have given her a clean bill of health.
While Sollows hasn't seen any health changes, she says being part of the trial has opened her eyes to the Ebola crisis.
"When I signed up, I didn't think it would have such an impact on me. I've become very interested in Ebola -- and in other vaccination stories, but mostly Ebola," Sollows told CTV's Canada AM Monday from Halifax.
Sollows says she's been reading every bit of news she can about the Ebola epidemic and about the doctors and the nurses who have been working in Ebola-affected countries. She says she's been so drawn into the story, she now wants to try to do more to help.
"I've even, myself, been looking into volunteer opportunities in West Africa. So it's totally, unexpectedly changed my life," she said.
Sollows says what's needed most right now are doctors and nurses but if she finds there's any other way she can help, she would love to travel to West Africa and help.
Sollows has also been touched by the stories of the other Canadians who have signed up to be test subjects for the vaccine. She's even heard of one man who has chosen to donate the full $1,100 that all trial participants receive to the Children's Wish Foundation – a move she calls "amazing."
The study is designed to test whether the vaccine causes an effective infection-fighting response and to watch for any side effects.
In the month since Sollows received the vaccine, she says she's felt some flu-like symptoms, some joint and muscle pain, some nausea and sore throat.
"But it's hard to tell what's from the vaccine and what's not," she said.
She recently had to sign a consent form to say she has been made aware that a similar clinical trial in Switzerland has been temporarily suspended. That trial was halted because a few test subjects reported joint pain – a not-uncommon side effect seen after other vaccinations as well.
The Swiss scientists say the reported symptoms ware mild, and affected only four out of 59 subjects. But they wanted more time to assess the situation before resuming vaccinations. That trial is scheduled to resume on Jan. 5.
Other clinical trials of this vaccine are being conducted at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, both in Bethesda, Md., in Germany and in Gabon. Another is set to start soon in Kenya.
With files from The Canadian Press
