Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY
I think the major concern is with the RNA vaccines, like Phizer. I am satisfied that the immediate short term effects are minimal, and in most non-existent, but the issue relates to the longer term impacts, particularly given that this is a completely different kind of vaccine which involves injection of the virus’ DNA.
The testing of the vaccination over less than a year will not reveal longer term side-effects, whereas over the normal period of 10 years or so, testing is more likely to pick this up.
The vaccination could be completely safe - safer in fact than older style vaccines - but the point is, we don’t know that. Even with the rigour that has been deployed before, vaccines have had to be withdrawn urgently due to longer term effects that were not known when the vaccine was released. The SARS vaccine, which induced narcolepsy in a significant number of recipients, is a case in point.
It is for these reasons that I would only be prepared to take the Oxford AstraZenica vaccine at the present time, which I believe to be the safer, more conventional inoculation. We have ample supplies of that coming on stream, fortunately.
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From my Daughter who is doing a PHd in a highly specialised immunological field. She is also pretty good at explaining this in understandable terms.
The mRNA vaccine (Pfizer & Modena) is a strand of mRNA that encodes the Spike protein from covid. Our cells read the mRNA and produce the Spike protein. Our immune system recognises this Spike protein and forms a response to it, making all the antibody and memory to protect us from the real thing.
A vector vaccine (Oxford AZ) works in a very similar way but instead of just giving you the mRNA that encodes the Spike protein, they put it in a dead viral shell that protects it (allowing it to be kept at room temp) the cell then uses the genetic code inside the dead viral vector to make the Spike protein. The immune system then does the same to generate the immunity.
The pure mRNA would be more effective as it doesn't have to get out the dead viral shell (hence why the Pfizer ones efficacy is higher) but, mRNA degrades really easily. So it has to be stored at - 70. Which is a pain in the posterior.