(WXYZ) — Devin Luckett signed up to be one of 30,000 participants in the Moderna vaccine trial, as federal regulators are reviewing the potential breakthrough treatment.
"I felt obligated to participate," Luckett told 7 Action News. "Everyone around me thought I was crazy... my friends and family."
Luckett is a graduate of Purdue University and studied molecular biology. He said he felt comfortable with Moderna's study after a thorough review.
The 32-year-old said he went through pre-trial screenings, blood draws, a physical, and COVID-19 tests before he received two injections of the vaccine.
The first dose was in early October. He said he received the second dose four weeks later and the side effects were intense.
"I had a fever of 103-degrees," Luckett said. "I had an incredible amount of pain in my arm. I was fatigued. I had some joint pain. I had some redness and swelling in my arm but the symptoms lasted less than 24 hours."
Some participants were given placebos in the double-blind study but Luckett believes he was part of the vaccinated group.
AP-NORC poll: Only half in US want shots as vaccine nears
A recent study says only half of Americans want the vaccine. Luckett urges others to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated.
"We are going to have to trust science we are going to have to trust our medical professional," Luckett said. "I hope by people seeing me get vaccinated that it encourages them to get vaccinated to beat this pandemic."
