Chris Swanson is one of the first participants in the newest Hiv vaccine trial. He spoke with me about his experiences with Hiv, his experiences with the trial, and why he chose to participate.
This is David Nalos, communal Media master at the Hiv research Section at the San Francisco division of communal Health, and I wanna welcome you to the first Trials and Vials Podcast. The Hiv research Section is a leader in Hiv prevention research working with Bay Area communities to search for efficient prevention strategies that will cut the impact of Hiv/Aids globally. Today we're talking to Chris Swanson, one of the first participants in the newest Hiv vaccine trial.
Hiv
How are you Chris?
Chris: I'm doing very very well, thank you.
David: So let's talk Hiv. Now, Hiv, as you know, has been colse to for approximately 30 years now and for approximately as long we've been trying to find a vaccine to end the epidemic. So tell me why did you conclude to join the trial and why now. Why is now the right time?
Chris: You know, like five, six years ago, I didn't have any relationship to the disease really. Now it's wholly in my community, it's engrained and, it's in my personal life, and in relationships, and in friends and I mean I had a friend pass away on Friday from the disease...
David: Wow
Chris:...and my last relationship was a magnet relationship, you know, I was negative and he was safe bet and that's why it was a big proponent for me to be a part of the study. What unquestionably resonated was that it was time, I had the sense of feeling that it was just... It was time. I mean when you're 20 and you're kind of figuring out who you are and arrival out and kind of all over (laugh), it's unquestionably not something you think about. And then like I said when all things has kind of over the last consolidate of years unquestionably hit home and hearing the information it was just like okay, it's time. It's assuredly time to kind of grow up and time to give back.
David: You were talking a limited bit about how it's in your community, umm, you said it's colse to you and people are talking about it. But a lot of the research talks about the complacency that a lot of the younger generation has colse to Hiv. And you are... 20 years old?
Chris: 25
David: 25 years old. people who are in your age group, do you find that that complacency is there?
Chris: Very much so. I can recall when I was in my last relationship that he had a friend call him and tell him that he was positive. And I just remember the kind of calming down of it's not a death sentence, it's not the end of the world. And having a lot of friends in the older demographic who were those activists and who were those people who were highly complicated who saw people die within a very, very short number of time; having them talk to my age group unquestionably kind of resonated with me.
But then with my friends recently, very close friends arrival and finally admitting, you know, I've known for a year but I'm finally comfortable to talk about it, and it unquestionably being the sense of okay well I'm not gonna die tomorrow; the kind of feeling that it's manageable. Which I would tend to agree with that it isn't a death sentence but I think that that also can put a spin on it not having such the work on that it is a problem. It's a disease that can take lives and does.
David: It's a real double-edged sword.
Chris: Completely.
David: What did you know about Hiv vaccines before unquestionably you were in an Hiv vaccine trial?
Chris: Nothing. I really... I unquestionably hadn't done a lot of research. I mean personally I was, for the last three years, caught up with school and work and internship and things and so I unquestionably didn't get to get as complicated as I would have liked to. And so one of my personal goals was as soon as I had that time, it was a goal of mine to get complicated and it just so happened that within like a month of graduation I heard about the study and that's when I contacted and unquestionably got complicated and unquestionably kind of put the ball in motion, I guess.
David: What were you expecting before you unquestionably came in for your first visit?
Chris: That's a good question. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I think I'd played over like 8000 scenarios in my head, but that was before I unquestionably had the information that they give you because the first enrollment sessions you unquestionably are taken straight through Power Points and unquestionably kind of umpteenth signatures to make sure you understand everything.
So there's never a feeling that I didn't get an write back or I was left with a sense of uncertainty. It was always, "Do you have any questions," you know, "Is there whatever else we can construe to you," or "Do you understand this?" So that you unquestionably feel that you're being valued and it's not just like, "Okay, you're just, you know, a rat in a cage" kind of thing. It's a very honest, personable, experience. My expectations going into it were... I don't think I unquestionably had any. I unquestionably did not know what to expect because I had never participated in a study before.
And I remember when I started the study a consolidate people were a limited bit weary towards my involvement in it. It was funny I remember having brunch with a friend and he was mentioning, he's like, "Well it's an Hiv vaccine like the flu vaccine, like they're gonna give it to you." And unquestionably having to educate them on what was happening, how it was being done, what was being utilized, and the fact that you can't, I mean it's all synthetic. You're not going to be injected by The division of communal health with Hiv to see what happens. I mean it... That's just a reality, that's not happening. But unquestionably getting that stigma out of people's head because they're worried and I think the vaccine, that word, I think throws people.
Just cause you hear the word vaccine it doesn't mean you're getting it. It's been engrained in people's heads about the flu vaccine, and about, well "we're giving you a limited bit of it," when that's unquestionably not the case. And, I mean, when I called and talked to the people here at the division of communal Health... That was all I needed. Feeling just wholly comfortable, wholly accepted, my fears were addressed, all things was kind of put to rest, so to speak, and I was made to feel unquestionably comfortable and informed of what I was doing. Any expectations just turned into this safe bet light so, it's been good.
David: So did you have that fear that everybody talks to you about about being injected with the Hiv virus. Did that ever...
Chris: Yes!
David: Yeah? Ok! (Laughs)
Chris: (Laughs) I remember sitting with Haley, sitting there and being like, "Okay, so you swear there's like no way." She's like, "Okay, we'll go straight through it again." And I was like, "Alright, just so we're on the same page." But, yeah, I mean as much as people have become complacent with it. When you bring it up in a serious note, especially with younger people, it still can kind of hit. My first reaction when I got in was I was nervous. I had an greatest fear. I was like, "Okay, so, I'm gonna get Hiv from this."
Then I notion there's no way that, you know, The division of communal health for San Francisco is unquestionably gonna be allowed to just be like, "Here you go," nor would they even think doing something like that. So, yeah, it was assuredly a fear of mine but, like I said, those fears were assuredly set aside.
David: So what are the visits unquestionably like?
Chris: (Laughs) It's like therapy. Cause it's funny cause you come in... The process, obviously, you check your corporeal health to make sure you're able to be vaccinated. They have to order the vaccine, and then in that time that you have to wait for it to be delivered from the pharmacy, that's why I tell everybody it's like therapy.
The nurse practitioners here I... I think are phenomenal. They have a way of... They've been so genuine. I mean aside from being amazing at what they do. I mean just on a personal level, I mean, I told them I can't thank them sufficient because they make you feel at home when you're here and you unquestionably get to talk and they just have a way of bringing things out about you and getting you to just... Not necessarily spin information but they just make you feel so comfortable that you can unquestionably talk and have an outlet to unquestionably express these things; especially when it has to do with Hiv or the reasons why you're doing the study.
So, you know, you come in here and in that time you get to kind of vent a limited bit. And it's... I mean, you know, it's checking vitals and it's things like that and then it becomes your accountability in taking part after words to unquestionably kind of monitor for three or five days; kinda checking the injection site or any inherent side effects or symptoms and temperature. It's not super time intensive, I think, on our part as the participant but I think the information that's being taken and the scientific research that's arrival out of it is immeasurable. I mean, I think it's invaluable.
David: Have you had any side effects?
Chris: No, which has been great... I mean my arm hurts sometimes a limited bit. I mean I'd never had a Bioinjector before. I didn't even know what it was.
David: Can you tell people a limited bit about what that is?
Chris: It's... Everyone's like, "What is that?" Umm, so a normal vaccination obviously would come with like a needle. But it's needle-less. It's essentially high pressured air that punctures less than a pinhole of your skin to inject the vaccine. And it's... It's approximately just like a weird pressure for a limited and that's it. The only side effects that I've ever experienced as a part of the study was my arm was sore for like a day or two that was it.
I mean I haven't experienced whatever that would cause me to lead to concern and be like, "Okay, well maybe I shouldn't be doing this." But it's been a very, a very good experience.
David: And have you told your friends, family, that you're in this trial? And what have their reactions been?
Chris: It's all over Facebook! (Laughs)
David: It's... (laughs) What have their reactions been?
Chris: Umm, at first, like I said, approximately everybody has been a bit weary just because of vaccines and they think, you know, unquestionably taking that time and them understanding why I'm doing it, what it's for, has helped them I think realize that it's... You know, aside from the scientific aspect and unquestionably what's going on... My emotional input into the situation and being a part of the study has helped them come to terms with something they may have been a bit weary about just on the surface.
David: Mmmhmm.
Chris: Not unquestionably knowing much about it, just hearing they're like, "Ehhh," you know, a limited stand offish but really, I think, investing the time to take five minutes and just unquestionably construe what it's about, why I'm doing it, why the others, you know, who are a part of the study are unquestionably involved. Cause everybody has a unique story and everybody has a unique point of view as to why they're doing it, what it means to them.
I'm not shy about it I'll post it on Facebook for everyone, you know, it's the next injection, you know, and the response is phenomenal. Cause I get a lot of safe bet "congratulations," "thank you for doing something." I think sometimes a lot of people don't feel that they can do anything. I didn't think that I could unquestionably do whatever in the starting and then when I found out about this vaccine study I realized that I unquestionably approximately easily lend myself to do something about it. I mean in all honesty it's been a very enlightening experience. It's something I would do again if there was someone else opening down the road to partake in someone else study. I think it's great.
David: How has your sexual behaviors, your sexual practices, how has all of that changed since you participated. If it has?
Chris: Very much so. I mean... I say very much so and it's unquestionably kind of helped me come to terms with my own questions that I might have. Things that I might not have unquestionably fully understood until I got the information that you guys supply here. So it's helped, I think, more solidify who I recognize as in the community, just ample the way I choose to live my life. It's assuredly helped kind of solidify that. Just with the information and all things that's in case,granted it's phenomenal.
Essentially, it's always been about safe behavior but I think everyone, I mean, I don't think everyone's safe all the time as they should be. Especially with such a sex safe bet community, when you're out having fun or doing what not you may not know. people may not always feel comfortable to spin that information and unquestionably taking ownership to protect yourself and get tested and if you're sexually active, taking accountability and ownership of that I think is highly important. It's something that I've been very proud to have been doing and practicing for years.
I think it's necessary and I think you have one life to live, so to speak, and you unquestionably need to kind of take care of yourself and take care of those that are colse to you because if you are participating in a lot of sexual behavior it's just the responsible thing to do. And it's respectful of not only your own body but those who you choose to share it with. I think that's unquestionably important.
David: So what would you like to tell others who might be mental about joining?
Chris: To call. To just inquire. I would tell people who may not think it to not assume things 'till you unquestionably have the information. I know it's hard. Take time, just make a phone call, it's fifteen minutes. You can get some information and you can conclude if it's for you and if it's not for you. I think people who are inspecting joining should just inquire. Just do it because you have unquestionably nothing to lose.
If whatever you'll maybe even join, hopefully, and supply a vast number of information towards this research and towards this study. Just don't be fearful. There unquestionably isn't whatever to be afraid of. I say that now being someone in the study and someone who did have fear in the beginning. I think it's only natural to have that fear. So I think realizing that you can write back that fear and still ask just to get more information does no one any harm. It's just a phone call. So do it.
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