As the notoriously slow process of Covid-19 vaccine approval drags on, groups of scientists have begun developing their own experimental SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, citing its supposed benefits on themselves, as well as their families and friends. 

One such scientist, Johnny Stine, has come under scrutiny after an exchange with Farhad Ghatan, mayor of Friday Harbor, Washington, on a public Facebook page, where he offered to drive over to the mayor’s house to administer his homemade vaccine, which he sells for $400 per dose. Other initiatives, such as the Rapid Deployment Vaccine Collaborative (RaDVaC) and CoroNope, have been more successful in avoiding the limelight.

Although these scientists’ efforts to more quickly develop their own vaccines is admirable, such rushed products lack rigorous scientific vetting. The vaccine development process is a long one, and for a good reason –  scientists must perform carefully controlled, double-blind studies on animal models and gradually larger human cohorts before releasing the final product to the public.

So what’s wrong about this situation isn’t the fact that scientists like Stine are administering experimental drugs to themselves and friends who are willing to be tested. It’s that they are pandering unapproved drugs to frightened citizens who are desperate for a miracle cure. Worse, by claiming that their vaccines work, these scientists encourage people to take less precautions to prevent transmission. It’s frightening to think that these scientists are relying on the general population as their first trial.

Whether or not these doctors are motivated by altruism or reckless self-interest, one thing is clear: scientists who promote experimental vaccines as valid drugs blur the boundary between medicine and quackery, subjecting unaware citizens to unanticipated harm. Let’s not become fixated on unfounded claims and focus on protecting ourselves and others.