What are mRNA Vaccines?
Messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines have been a promising alternative to regular vaccines such as live attenuated, inactive pathogens, and subunit vaccines due to the quick and effective low-cost product and high potency and effectiveness. In the past, there has been one obstacle like the inefficient in vivo delivery of mRNA vaccines with them not working in a living organism. This has been solved with mRNA being carrier molecules, allowing the cytoplasm within a host’s body to take it easy. mRNA vaccines have been developed for non-infectious diseases that cannot be solved with conventional vaccines.
How mRNA vaccines...vaccinate!
Most people have heard of mRNA vaccines through COVID vaccines with mRNA vaccines giving the host’s cells instructions for how to create the S protein located on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. After being vaccinated, muscle cells will produce S protein pieces and have them on the cell surfaces, leading to the host’s cell having S proteins on the cell surface. The body will produce antibodies as a result. If infected with the COVID virus, the antibodies will be able to defend against the virus. After the protein pieces are made, the cells destroy instructions and remove them. Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 both utilize mRNA in their vaccines against COVID.
mRNA vaccine myths about COVID-19
There have been many misconceptions that come up with the distribution of the mRNA vaccines for COVID, leading to many people not wanting to get vaccinated. One of these misconceptions is that the ingredients within the vaccine are dangerous; this is not true with many of the ingredients being ingredients in foods that people eat daily. Another myth is that COVID-19 vaccines have microchips. This is also not accurate with a vaccine’s purpose not to track one’s location but provide antibodies to fight against disease or infection. These mRNA vaccines also cannot interfere with the DNA; the genetic material transported by mRNA vaccines does not enter the cell’s nucleus, which is where DNA is secured. Instead, the vaccine is more of a blueprint that is used by the body and removed once the body has conducted an immune response. These vaccines also don’t make you infected with COVID-19 but instead give your body a chance to produce antibodies against this form (there are no living forms of the virus being put into the authorized vaccines). As a result, there are similar symptoms like a fever that indicate your body is building up protection for the actual virus in case you are infected.
There are many different types of vaccines than just mRNA vaccines and the main point is to understand that the pros of vaccines outweigh the cons.
Thank you for reading!
-Siri Nikku
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