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SPEAKER: How a COVID-19 works
Does the mRNA vaccine work?
COVID vaccines are now
available.
Some of the COVID-19 vaccines
are mRNA vaccines, but what is
this average?
mRNA vaccines are
different from traditional
vaccines.
mRNA vaccines do not expose you
to any real virus instead,
they are made with messenger
Ribonucleic acid or mRNA.
It is a type of molecule that
gives instructions to the cell
to learn how to make different kinds
of proteins.
mRNA molecules are
a natural part of our cells
and how our body works.
Researchers have worked
with mRNA vaccines
for many years.
They are easier to make
and safely in a laboratory
than a vaccine that uses
a virus.
Therefore, they can also
be made faster.
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
have passed numerous laboratory tests
and in thousands of people,
and meet strict standards
from the FDA.
So how do these vaccines work?
First, a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine
is injected into a muscle
in your upper arm.
Some muscle cells pick up mRNA
instructions in the vaccine
and make a harmless piece
of a protein called
a peak protein.
This protein is found
outside of SARS-CoV-2
virus that causes COVID-19.
The muscle cells then destroy
instructions for doing
the peak protein.
mRNA never goes
in the nucleus of your cells
where your DNA is stored.
The new peak protein now
sits on the surface
muscle cells.
Your immune system detects
peak protein
as an alien threat of destruction,
it starts making antibodies
fight anything
with that spike protein on it.
It will help your body
the immune system recognizes
and fight the real virus if it
never shows up.
It’s like recognizing someone
by the hat they wear.
Your body is then
ready to spot COVID-19
and fight it before it grows
in the cells of your body.
Fast facts to remember
on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
They help get your body
ready to fight COVID-19
virus before it makes you sick,
they do not use
any live, dead or weak virus,
they can’t give you COVID-19,
they do not affect your DNA.
You want to know more,
go to cdc.gov to learn more
information on mRNA vaccines.
You can also learn more about
how vaccines were approved
at fda.gov.
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