Barry Colvin is one of more than 43,000 volunteers taking part in a trial of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the giant drug company Pfizer.

He was enrolled in the trial by NYU Langone Health.

On Monday, Pfizer said initial results show the vaccine is more than 90% effective in preventing symptomatic cases of the life-threatening illness.

What You Need To Know

  • Pfizer says an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19

  • One of the more than 43,000 volunteers for the vaccine trial, the volunteer we spoke to said he has not felt adverse side effects, though he does not know if he was given a placebo

  • Monday's announcement doesn't mean a vaccine is imminent

  • But it's an indication that the company is on track to file an emergency use application this month

"It is good to be a part of the fight,” Colvin told NY1.

Dr. Mark Mulligan is the lead investigator for the Pfizer trial at NYU Langone.

He said that if the initial findings hold, the vaccine would be as effective as vaccines for the measles and the human papillomavirus.

“Ninety percent and higher, that's considered, frankly, a home run,” explained Dr. Mulligan.

Colvin reached out to NYU Langone to volunteer to be a part of the trial.

After an extensive questionnaire and psychical exam, he got a call to be a part of the third phase of the trial.

He received his first dose of the vaccine at the end of July and returned three weeks later for the second.

He said he's experienced no adverse side effects and was cautiously optimistic of the early findings.

"When you are going through this process you hope the one you are involved in, or one of the vaccines, is going to be effective."

Colvin, a 52-year-old investment manager, said he'll never know if he was in fact given the actual vaccine or just a placebo.

But for the next two years he will continue to record weekly entries into his COVID diary, and every six months get tested for COVID-19 antibodies.

Colvin said he considered the potential of a health risk in taking the experimental vaccine, but said the reward would be greater than the risk.

"I am not a health care worker and I could not contribute in that way, and I am not an essential worker and I could not contribute in that way either. But there are things that all of us can do and one of the things I thought I could do as a relatively healthy person was to help out with a vaccine,” Colvin explained.

There is no indication to how long the vaccine protection will last.

Pfizer has said it will not apply for emergency use authorization of its vaccine until it finishes collecting safety information from participants.

That is expected to be done by mid-November.