How do mRNA vaccines work?

posted 107 days ago by Fieldbricks33 107 days ago by Fieldbricks33 +13 / -0

First off - I’m not taking the vaccine. Everyone had their own right/decision to make, but me and my family won’t until there are longer studies, at scale, on long term effects.

Secondly, and my main question if anyone can explain it in a “simple manner” how do these mRNa vaccines work? My understanding is unlike other vaccines where you get a dead or live version of the disease, so your body recognizes it and responds appropriately, the mRNA basically sends a message, via proteins/genetic material to tell our body how to build up an immunity to fight the particular strain of virus?

So instead of “typical” vaccine where we learn via experience, mRNA is telling us when we encounter it how to fight it?

I’m genuinely curious as I’ve heard some people saying mRNA alters DNA, has less approval, isn’t as safe, etc.

22 comments

22 comments share save hide report block hide child comments

Comments (22)

sorted by:

You're viewing a single comment thread. View all comments, or full comment thread.

▲ 1 ▼

– LadyPersephone 1 point 107 days ago +1 / -0

Yes, you are right. It uses the pathogen’s genetic code to instruct your body to create antigens. Think of it as a game patch that the software developers release when they find a specific bug. If deemed safe and successful, it's fast and can be done in as little as a week.

In a nutshell:

Viruses contain a core of genes made of RNA (or DNA) wrapped in a coat of proteins.
To make the protein coat, the RNA genes of the virus make messenger RNA (mRNA); the mRNA then makes the proteins. An mRNA of a specific structure makes a protein of a specific structure. Red mRNA makes red proteins, purple mRNA makes purple proteins, speckled blue mRNA makes speckled blue proteins.
The mRNA vaccine causes our body to make this specific protein that COVID mrna viruses make. Let's say it's cheetah print for ease.
Our immune systems recognize that the cheetah print protein doesn’t belong there and begin building an immune response and making cheetah print antigens (as when you're infected).
Unlike when we're infected, our immune system only has to fight the lonely cheetah print spike proteins, not the full virus with its core and its coat.

permalink save report block reply