U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said Wednesday he has been part of Pfizer’s trial for a COVID-19 vaccine, saying he wanted to help build confidence and trust for Montanans and others wondering if they should take the vaccine when it is approved.
Pfizer has announced their vaccine is 95% effective in preventing the spread of the respiratory illness. As of noon Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 11.3 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States and 247,834 deaths.
Daines, R-Mont., said in a news conference that he received a call from his mother in August, saying Pfizer was looking for people to enroll in their COVID-19 vaccine trial in Bozeman.
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said he participated in Pfizer’s trial for the COVID-19 vaccine.
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U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.
“Thanks to that call, my sweet wife Cindy and I decided to go online and enroll in the trial – joining over 100 everyday Montanans participating. While this was a blind trial, I have since tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies,” he said in a news release.
The CDC website says that when someone tests positive for COVID-19 antibodies it is presumed the person has been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at some point in the past.
Having antibodies to the virus might provide protection from getting infected with it again, the CDC said.
Daines’ staff said it could show the vaccine generated the antibody response and believed it underscored the effectiveness of the trial
Daines said Wednesday has been tested several times for the coronavirus and has never tested positive.
He said his goal in participating in the trial was to help build confidence and trust for Montanans and the American people wondering if they should take the vaccine when it is approved.
“This is about saving lives. This is about supporting our health care heroes,” he said. “This is about protecting Montana jobs & workers and rebuilding our economy. This is about American exceptionalism and innovation. This is about restoring hope. This is about restoring normalcy into our way of life.
Daines said he had some soreness in his arm and some light chills, but it was resolved overnight. He said the illness was resolved within a day.
Daines was re-elected to another six year term on Nov. 3.
This story will be updated.