That morning, a news anchor at CNN-affiliated OMCC in Savannah, Georgia, Baker became the first volunteer to receive an injection in the first phase 3 clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine in the United States.
The many lives lost and impacted by the coronavirus pandemic inspired Baker to volunteer.
“This is really, for me, very encouraging the fact that I could be that person who could help save some lives. It has been very heartbreaking to hear of people who have lost their lives because of this,” Baker told the senior medical correspondent for CNN, Elizabeth Cohen. at the Meridian Clinical Research site in Savannah on Monday.
According to the Johns Hopkins University case count in the United States, there are more than 4.2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, and at least 146,935 people have died.
“I never thought I would do something like this,” Baker said. “I just hope they are really, really good results. I know a lot of people are doing a lot of different vaccine trials.”
Making history
The Modern biotechnology company and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, developed the Covid-19 research vaccine that is being tested in the Phase 3 trial in the United States. The trial will be conducted at 89 U.S. research sites, according to NIAID.
The Phase 3 trial is expected to enroll about 30,000 adult volunteers to assess whether the Moderna / NIH vaccine can safely prevent symptomatic Covid-19 after two doses, among other results. The volunteers will receive two injections of 100 micrograms of the vaccine or a placebo 28 days apart. The researchers and participants will not know who received the vaccine.
Baker was not told if she received the vaccine or a placebo. Moments after receiving his injection, Baker told CNN’s Cohen that “it was painless” and ended before he knew it.
While at the research site in Savannah, Baker thought of his colleague Lyndsey Gough, who is among those affected by the coronavirus.
“It really broke my heart because she’s such a young, strong and energetic young lady that she’s just on fire for what she does, and seeing her later, she was very weak and also knew what could have happened to her.” She lost her appendix due to Covid, “Baker said, adding that Gough is now home.
‘We are all responsible for doing our part’
Monday was not the first time that Baker volunteered for a medical cause.
“I believe that we are all responsible for doing our part to improve our neighbor’s quality of life,” Baker wrote in his biography.
Now, Baker makes history not only as the first volunteer to receive a Phase 3 trial injection, but also as a volunteer black woman participating in the trial.
“I have heard many friends of mine and even family members say that, you know, ‘I will not be the first person to receive this vaccine. I do not want to be the guinea pig. I am going to wait and see what happens first. So they are very suspicious. So since I was at least brave enough to introduce myself right now, that could change that, that could eventually save their lives, “Baker said. “I hope maybe just seeing my face will help them change their opinions on that.”
John Bonifield and Lauren Mascaren contributed to this report.
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