The COVID-19 pandemic has been raging for over a year now, and as patients keep filling hospital beds across the globe and economies take a hit, scientists race to create vaccines that offer hope to individuals and communities.
Most of us have been eagerly anticipating the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines and putting an end to the pandemic. But, how do these coronavirus vaccines work? And how did researchers manage to develop these shots so fast? Let’s explore the science behind the COVID-19 vaccines.
The vaccines developed against COVID-19 – Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson – all hit the market using a novel mRNA technology that has actually been in development for over a decade.
The vaccine’s unique approach utilizes the chemical messenger called messenger RNA (mRNA), which is the genetic code that the human body uses to produce proteins. The vaccine mRNA transports itself into our cells and prompts them to produce a small part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s spike protein. Once our cells produce these protein fragments, the immune system recognizes them as foreign, allowing the body to mount a defense and generate immunity against the virus.
After we get vaccinated, our bodies continue to generate immunity against COVID-19 without the risk of getting infected with the actual virus. By using messenger RNA vaccines, experts can prompt the immune system to generate the essential proteins that help generate antibodies for specific viruses like the coronavirus.
It is worth noting that messenger RNA technology does not modify our DNA in any way. The vaccine has no impact on fertility or altering chromosomes in any way.
In conclusion, the science behind the COVID-19 vaccines is fascinating, it is overwhelming to see how scientists have managed to create vaccines with such incredible efficacy in such a short time. With ongoing studies and additional research, we can hope to continue to refine our approach to tackling issues like the novel coronavirus. For now, if you have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s essential that you get it as soon as possible to protect yourself from the deadly virus.
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