Topic 19: Safety of COVID mRNA vaccines
Question: Is it safe to receive COVID vaccines that contain messenger RNA (mRNA)? Answer: Yes. The first two vaccines “out of the gate” in the U.S. were developed by Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna. They both contain mRNA and underwent rigorous scrutiny in clinical trials before receiving Emergency Use Authorization. How do COVID mRNA vaccines work? The two available COVID mRNA vaccines instruct cells to produce spike protein which is what the COVID virus needs to invade cells. When the body’s immune cells see the produced spike protein, they recognize it as foreign and produce antibodies to attack it. These antibodies...