Understanding mRNA Covid-19 vaccines

Re:Understanding mRNA Covid-19 vaccines by Exmoor on Saturday December 12, 2020 @11:49PM (#25404393)

In addition to your other responses, I'll add this. There's not really a plausible mechanism that could cause problems to happen long after the fact. Although it sounds exotic, the mRNA vaccine is just using the same process every cold or flu you've ever had used, but in a more limited way since the proteins created by the vaccine cannot reproduce.

By 2 months all traces of vaccine are long gone and you're just left with an immune system trained to fight COVID (just like millions of people have already had happen naturally). So, while everybody has their eyes open, nobody can really explain the mechanism where something might happen.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Understanding mRNA Covid-19 vaccines by crazydoggers on Sunday December 13, 2020 @12:20AM (#25404495)

> There's not really a plausible mechanism that could cause problems to happen long after the fact.

Well there are some limited circumstances, but I don’t think they justify not going forward with the vaccine. For instance there is a possibility in some individuals that the mRNA itself (not just the spike protein) as well as the lipid encasing it to protect it and transport it into the cell can cause an immune response. It’s theoretically possible that in some individuals that could result in auto immune responses to other forms of messenger RNA in their cells. [1]

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5906799/

From the article

“A possible concern could be that some mRNA-based vaccine platforms induce potent type I interferon responses, which have been associated not only with inflammation but also potentially with autoimmunity”

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Understanding mRNA Covid-19 vaccines by reader_1000 on Sunday December 13, 2020 @05:51AM (#25405668)

Compared to old traditional vaccines, is mRNA-based vaccine safer considering long term side effects?

[ Parent | on HN ]