THIS ARTICLE IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION (PRO OR CON) FOR VACCINES, NOR IS IT MEDICAL ADVICE.
THIS HEALTH ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN TO HELP EXPLAIN mRNA AND HOW mRNA VACCINES WORK. WE WERE CONFUSED AND OTHERS PROBABLY ARE, ALSO.
PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU DO SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE. ONLY YOUR PERSONAL TRUSTED PHYSICIAN OR MEDICAL ADVISOR KNOWS YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY AND CAN ADDRESS CONCERNS OVER MEDICAL QUESTIONS.
Introduction: The New RNA Vaccines & How They Work Inside Your Body
COVID-19 has been a major global health concern, and scientists promoted a new kind of vaccine, the RNA vaccine, to help protect the public from the COVID-19 virus. These vaccines, like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, continue to play a crucial role in the continuing outbreak, but there is little knowledge generally distributed about how these RNA vaccines work.
In this article, we’ll break down the process of how RNA vaccines function on the cellular level.
Understanding COVID-19
Before we dive into RNA, let’s understand what the COVID-19 virus is. It is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. This virus has tiny, spike-like structures on its surface that allow it to enter and infect our cells. Once cells are infected, the virus can make us sick, in many ways, but mostly through a respiratory illness.
The Role of Our Immune System
Our bodies have our own resident superheroes, called the immune system. These cells are our internal army here to fight off invading maladies, like viruses and bacteria. To best destroy an enemy, the immune system must recognize a threat is coming. That’s where vaccines come in.
Traditional Vaccines vs. RNA Vaccines
Traditional vaccines work by using tiny pieces of the invading virus, its proteins, to train our immune system that this virus may be a threat, so be prepared. These proteins are weakened or killed, so the viruses will not make us sick, but they strengthen our immune system and make it able to fight the powerful virus if they do show up and attack.
RNA vaccines work differently. Instead of using pieces of the virus, like traditional vaccines, they use a tiny genetic material called RNA which has a set of instructions that communicate with our cells, telling them how to produce a harmless part of COVID’s spike protein found on the surface of that virus. Then the cell itself will learn how to protect against that unique protein.
Step by Step Information on How RNA Vaccines Work
- Introducing the RNA: When you get an RNA vaccine, a tiny amount of RNA is injected into your arm through a shot. This RNA carries instructions to make a part of the spike protein from the virus.
- Cell Action: Our cells are amazing little factories. They read the RNA instructions and start making that particular spike protein. Remember, this spike protein is harmless. IT CANNOT MAKE YOU SICK!
- Immune Response: Once the spike protein is created, your immune system kicks into action. It recognizes this protein as something foreign and starts building an army of special blood cells and proteins to fight this disease, specifically.
- Memory Power: Your immune system is smart; once trained on how to defeat each strain of COVID-19, it remembers how to fight the unique spike protein, again and again. If your body does come into contact with this virus, your immune system will be able to instantly resist with new antibodies.
Safety of RNA Vaccines
Why the doctors at the CDC consider RNA vaccines to be safe:
- There is no Live Virus in the shot: RNA vaccines do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. You can not get COVID-19 from the vaccine. It only contains a small part of the familiar spike (protein) from the virus.
- Rigorous Testing: Before RNA vaccines were approved for use, they went through extensive testing in clinical trials involving thousands of people. These trials had to show safety and effectiveness before being approved.
- Monitoring: Even after approval, health experts continue to monitor the vaccines for side effects. This monitoring is ongoing.
- Speed and Science: RNA vaccine development was faster than usual because of new advanced scientific techniques and tremendous global cooperation. Safety was the first concern during this process.
- Millions Have Been Vaccinated: Because of the pandemic, millions and millions of people worldwide have received doses of the RNA vaccines. This massive usage has delivered huge amounts of scientific knowledge and data, helping researchers to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of RNA vaccines.
Conclusion
RNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna work by teaching our immune system to recognize and fight the specific spike protein of the COVID-19 virus. The vaccines do not contain any live virus and according to biologists, RNA helps form proteins and does not affect DNA. The vaccine underwent rigorous testing and is continuously monitored. Think of all vaccines as the shield of a superhero, diligently looking to protect us, working night and day to fend off invaders!
Side effects reported for this RNA vaccine.
It’s important to know that while vaccines like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna RNA vaccines are generally safe, they can have side effects. Regarding side effects, the vast majority of patients experiencing side effects have a sore arm or a mild fever, which are common to all vaccinations. These side effects are usually mild and temporary, and they are a sign that your body is building protection against the virus. Here is an extended list of side effects reported for this RNA vaccine:
- Sore Arm: This is the most common side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine. Your arm where you received the shot might feel sore, tender, or a bit swollen. This is completely normal and usually goes away in a day or two.
- Fatigue: Some people feel tired or have a lack of energy after getting the vaccine. This can last for a day or two but typically improves on its own.
- Headache: Headaches are another common side effect. They are usually mild and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Fever: Some people may develop a mild fever after getting the vaccine. This is a sign that your body is responding to the vaccine and building protection. It usually goes away within a day or two.
- Chills: You might feel chilly or have mild shivering, similar to how you might feel when you have a fever. This is a common side effect and usually goes away quickly.
- Muscle or Joint Pain: Some people experience muscle aches or joint pain, which is generally mild and temporary.
- Nausea: A small percentage of people may feel a bit nauseous or have an upset stomach after getting the vaccine.
- Swelling or Redness at Injection Site: In addition to soreness, you might notice some swelling or redness at the spot where you received the vaccine. This is usually mild and goes away on its own.
Serious Side Effects from the COVID-19 RNA vaccines are extremely rare. There have been some reports of anaphylactoid reactions, which tend to involve a skin rash, breathlessness, and sometimes a drop in blood pressure. Health experts and regulatory agencies closely monitor the vaccine’s safety, and if any concerns arise, they investigate thoroughly and as quickly as possible.
Remember that not everyone will experience side effects, many people may have none. Side effects typically show up within a day or two after vaccination and the first eight side effects mentioned above will go away on their own in a short time.
If you do experience one of those first eight side effects mentioned, after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s generally a sign that your body is building protection against the virus. Everyone must weigh: 1) the benefits of the vaccination in protecting against and diminishing the serious illness that COVID-19 can become, vs. 2) the possibility of side effects, which are mild in almost all patients.
COVID-19 virus and its mutations have produced very severe illnesses and complications in some unprotected populations and demographics, including life-threatening illnesses that cannot be overcome.
If you have any concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine or experience severe or unusual side effects, it’s essential you contact your healthcare professional for guidance, asap. Your physician is the only source you have for trusted advice, based on your individual health history, and circumstances.
AGAIN. THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN TO HELP OUR READERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND RNA & RNA VACCINES AND NOT AS MEDICAL ADVICE.
RNA and DNA… The difference between the two as explained to a young student.
Imagine that RNA and DNA are like instruction manuals for building and running a living thing, just like how you have instructions for building a LEGO structure.
In simple terms, DNA is the big instruction manual that stores all the information, while RNA is like a little helper that takes a part of that information to where it’s needed to build and run your body. They work together to make sure everything in your body gets built and works correctly, just like you use your LEGO manual to build awesome creations!
Here’s how they are different:
- The Lego Set and Its Copy:
- DNA is like the original instruction manual for your LEGO set. It’s big and stays in a safe place.
- RNA is like a photocopy of one specific page from the manual. It’s a smaller, temporary copy used when you need to build the things on that page.
- Building Blocks:
- DNA uses four types of building blocks, which we can think of as different shapes of LEGO pieces. These are A, T, C, and G.
- RNA also uses these four building blocks, but instead of T, it uses U. So, it has A, U, C, and G.
- Where They’re Found:
- DNA is usually found in the cell’s nucleus, like the safe where you keep your LEGO manual.
- RNA can be found both inside the nucleus and outside in the cell’s working area, where it’s used to build things.
- Job Roles:
- DNA’s main job is to store all the long-term instructions for building and running your body, like your height and eye color.
- RNA’s main job is to take a small part of those instructions (that one page from the manual) and carry it to where the work is happening. It’s like giving a small instruction sheet to the person who is building that specific part.
Clarifying the DNA, RNA, and Ribosome System
RNA helps make sure that our cells build the correct proteins. Think of it like there is a big DNA cookbook, the RNA is the assistant chef and the ribosomes are the cooks.
When your body needs a specific protein, like the ones that help your muscles work or your hair grow, RNA reads the recipe (instructions) for that protein from the DNA cookbook. Then, it takes the recipe to the cell’s “kitchen”, or ribosome.
Proteins are the worker bees of your body and ribosomes are tiny protein-manufacturing areas within your cells. Ribosomes are the “kitchen” where proteins are made, DNA owns the cookbook, RNA assembles the amino acids in the specific order called for in the recipe, and delivers those amino acids to the ribosomes. The ribosomes join the amino acids together to create the needed protein.
To review: RNA reads the recipe from the DNA cookbook–it gathers the amino acids in the exact order needed to make the protein, then RNA turns those amino acids over to the ribosomes, where they follow the recipe RNA gave to them, and assembles the protein your body needs. When the protein is complete, it’s released from the ribosome into your body to do its job. All of this on a cellular level to keep you healthy, functioning properly, and running smoothly. This important microscopic system is happening 24/7 inside your cells!
Clarifying the difference between natural mRNA and the artificial mRNA used in the vaccines?
The primary difference between normal messenger RNA (mRNA) and the mRNA used in COVID-19 vaccines lies in their life span and how they work:
Normal Messenger RNA (mRNA):
- In our cells, normal mRNA is a crucial part of the process that helps build proteins. It carries instructions from our DNA in the cell’s nucleus to the ribosomes (cellular machinery) in the cytoplasm.
- These instructions are used to make various proteins that are essential for our body’s normal functioning. Think of it as a messenger that delivers specific protein-building instructions to the ribosomes.
- Normal mRNA is short-lived; it gets broken down by the cell after it has delivered its message. This process occurs constantly in our bodies to maintain our health.
mRNA in COVID-19 Vaccines (such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines):
- The mRNA used in COVID-19 vaccines is a synthetic or man-made version of mRNA.
- It contains instructions for building a small part of the spike protein found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
- When a person receives the COVID-19 vaccine, their cells take up this synthetic mRNA and use it to produce a small piece of the spike protein.
- The immune system recognizes this spike protein piece as foreign and develops an immune response against it, including the production of antibodies. This prepares the immune system to respond quickly if the person is exposed to the actual virus.
- Importantly, the synthetic mRNA in the vaccine does not alter a person’s DNA, as it stays in the cell’s cytoplasm and does not enter the nucleus where DNA is located.
- Synthetic mRNA has a longer life cycle by design, in order to survive, manufacturing, shipping, storage, and injection. After the protective proteins are produced by the synthetic messenger RNA, the injected synthetic mRNA is broken down by the cells and are eliminated from the body.
In Summary:
Normal mRNA in our cells is involved in regular protein production and is short-lived. In contrast, the mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines serves as a blueprint to trigger an immune response against the virus by instructing cells to produce a harmless part of the virus. It does not affect a person’s DNA and is eventually cleared from the body.
Regarding side effects related to the breakdown and elimination of excess synthetic mRNA in the body. Multi-millions if not billions of doses have been administered as of October 1, 2023, and research on mRNA vaccines has been ongoing since 1997 (26 years).
In our quick search, we were unable to find reporting of known severe side effects associated with the synthetic mRNA not being eliminated from patients’ bodies, but data is constantly being collected, and the scientific knowledge base changes daily.
Please do your own internet and personal research, if this is your concern.
(Sources: Information from the World Wide Web, Wikipedia, various medical websites, and editing software.)
