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Rochester Science

Sick of being broke? Why not get sick for cash? U of R’s norovirus vaccine tests

The @UofR Medicine department is currently testing out a new vaccine for the norovirus – the virus commonly known for its disastrous outbreaks on cruise ships in recent years, but which the CDC identifies as the culprit for the majority of food-borne illnesses in the country. They’re looking for twenty volunteers willing to submit to both the vaccine and the virus and in return, they plan to pay out $1,165. Which buys a lot of ginger tea.

But before you head to the mall for your get-well-soon shopping experience, you should be aware of just what you’ll be subjected to. Subjects will be given two shots containing either the virus or a placebo, spaced four weeks apart. Four weeks after that, they will be exposed to the virus to see how they react. During this testing phase, subjects will be held in isolation for five days, to avoid the risk of spreading the disease or of contaminating the results by getting sick.. you know.. “the old-fashioned way.”

All you have to be to participate is between the ages of 18 and 50, not working in select professions, and of course willing to withstand a nasty stomach ache for a few days. Sound good? Well, by all means, give them a call at the Vaccine Research Unit at (585) 273-3990 or click here to read the press release.

By Tommy Belknap

Owner, developer, editor of DragonFlyEye.Net, Tom Belknap is also a freelance journalist for The 585 lifestyle magazine. He lives in the Rochester area with his wife and son.