[Lune]

Originally Posted by Zipity [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The most effective vaccine to date is the Novavax(NVAX) vaccine and it does not use RNA technology. This is the one I will take if I can get my way. They also have the best Flu Vaccine currently available.

I read Novavax is only 50% effective against the South African strain. I didn't vet it.

Originally Posted by nostalgiaquest [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What is mRNA anyways? Where does it come from? What does it do?

Originally Posted by Lune [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

mRNA vaccines don't permanently or even temporarily change the genome of anything-- they don't touch the genome. Cells use mRNA, which is transcripted as a 'copy' of a section of your genome, to encode the production of proteins elsewhere in the cell. Like if you think of a cell like a corporation that has a headquarters and a factory, your DNA is in the headquarters, which writes mRNA mail to send to the factory across town in the endoplasmic reticulum, which uses the mRNA directions to build a protein.

mRNA vaccines simply insert those directions directly into the cell, which takes them and makes them into immunity-significant pieces of the virus, which the cell then excretes. Those pieces get picked up by your immune system which recognizes--and destroys-- them when they show up again in the form of covid.

mRNA vaccines have a potential safety advantage in that they don't actually use any form of viable virus at all-- it is impossible for anyone to get infected with anything through the use of one. It is also cheaper and more efficient to mass produce. The downsides are that it is difficult and costly to transport and store because the mRNA is very fragile. We've also never mass produced and mass vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine before, but it's extremely cutting edge, and is thought to produce superior protection more safely than the traditional viral vector vaccines developed by Russia and China. But given the novelty we simply haven't seen how things pan out long term (multiple years). Still better than risking it tangling with covid as long as they finish out the phase III trials.