...
By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Neal Browning, one of the first people to test the COVID-19 Moderna mRNA vaccine, has taken to social media six years later to reflect on his experience and reveal the "side effects."
The milestone traces back to March 16, 2020, when researchers at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle began a first-stage study of a vaccine candidate later known as mRNA‑1273, developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna.
Why It Matters
The Seattle injections came at a moment of intense uncertainty—just days after the World Health Organization declared COVID‑19 a pandemic—and they marked an early step in the clinical-testing pathway that would eventually lead to widespread vaccination campaigns.
Read More
People Spot Something in Background of Mark Carney Photo with King Charles3 min read
One Detail People Spot on White House Website Fuels Fears of Trump 3rd Term5 min read
Hillary Clinton Epstein Deposition Inspires New Merch Campaign3 min read
But the pandemic’s vaccine story also became deeply entangled with politics, public messaging and online misinformation, all of which contributed to growing suspicion and polarization around vaccination.
"My mother is a registered nurse; my wife is a RN. I grew up around vaccines and modern medicine so I know how much of our current lives in developed countries are directly attributed to vaccines and the diseases they prevent or lessen the likelihood of," Browning told Newsweek.
"Looking back, I would do it all over again, and, if anything, would use my voice and limited reach to push harder for vaccine literacy and advocacy," Browning said.
...
What To Know
The trial would ultimately include 45 volunteers receiving two doses about a month apart, with the work focused first on safety and whether the shots could trigger an immune response.
False or exaggerated claims circulated online that COVID‑19 vaccines caused widespread deaths, severe injuries, or long‑term organ damage, often misusing raw adverse‑event reports or anecdotal accounts as proof of causation.
In 2021, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that social-media companies were not doing "enough" to prevent COVID-19 misinformation. It followed a feud between the Biden administration and Facebook over whether tech companies are responsible for hurting the nation's vaccine rollout.
Mistrust was not driven only by false claims, though. Recent policy shifts and official statements also played a role. In 2025, the FDA required Pfizer and Moderna to expand warning language about myocarditis and pericarditis for COVID‑19 vaccines, particularly for males aged 12 to 24.
While experts stressed these side effects were already known and rare, critics argued the updated language appeared to contradict earlier Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conclusions, creating public confusion.
Later in 2025, an internal FDA memo stated that at least 10 child deaths were "related" to COVID‑19 vaccination. The memo, which was not peer‑reviewed and did not publicly detail how conclusions were reached, was described by experts as lacking sufficient evidence to establish causation.
In October 2025, the CDC dropped its blanket recommendation that all Americans receive updated COVID‑19 vaccines, shifting instead to individual decision‑making after a vote by a newly appointed advisory panel backed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
In a Threads post shared to mark the six‑year anniversary of the trial, Browning explained how he was "the first man on earth to test the first COVID‑19 mRNA vaccines."
He added: "Yes you read this correctly, it was 6 years ago we had the Moderna mRNA vaccine trial beginning. It was the same one that eventually was approved and distributed globally starting in late December 2020 to Healthcare professionals."
...
He went on share a tongue-in-cheek list of the side effects he experienced. Browning wrote: "Side effects were: Leading a healthy life, not getting long COVID, not needing hospitalization, or being on a respirator."
"My post was inspired by the constant assault on vaccines. So many uninformed or scared people still refer to specifically COVID vaccines as ‘the jab’ or similar disdainful phrases, while not understanding that every side effect that is possible and tracked can be gotten by being infected by COVID-19, but far worse and far, far more often than is caused by the vaccine," Browning said.
"Ultimately, ignorance is costing lives and the future health of people still today, so if only one person took my post seriously who was skeptical before, it was worth posting."
In the comments on Threads, users praised Browning for taking part in the trial.
"Those who participate in early trials of vaccines & other medications are brave and much appreciated. Thank you," said one commenter, while another wrote: "What a cool "fun fact!" Thank you for helping us."
What Happens Next
Six years on, the anniversary post is also a reminder of how dramatically the public conversation shifted—from urgent hope in early trials to polarized debates over trust, misinformation, mandates and risk perception.
Update 03/24/26 10:15 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Neal Browning.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines