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Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Questions

How do mRNA vaccines work?

mRNA vaccines have strands of genetic material called mRNA inside a special coating. That coating protects the mRNA from enzymes in the body that would otherwise break it down. It also helps the mRNA enter the dendritic cells and macrophages in the lymph node cells near the vaccination site.
mRNA can most easily be described as instructions for the cell on how to make a piece of the “spike protein” that is unique to SARS-CoV-2. Since only part of the protein is made, it does not do any harm to the vaccinated person, but it is antigenic.
After the piece of the spike protein is made, the cell breaks down the mRNA strand and disposes of it using enzymes in the cell. The mRNA strand never enters the cell’s nucleus or affects genetic material.
Once displayed on the cell surface, the spike protein causes the immune system to begin producing antibodies which means the immune system is primed to protect against future infection.

Can mRNA vaccines change a person’s DNA?

No. mRNA from the vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell and does not affect or interact with a person’s DNA.

Who can receive Moderna COVID-19 vaccine?

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.

How many doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine do patients need? At what interval(s)?

All persons indicated for vaccination should receive 2 doses at least 1 month (28 days) apart. mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable with each other or with other COVID-19 vaccine products. The safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series have not been evaluated. Both doses of the series should be completed with the same product. However, if two doses of different mRNA COVID-19 vaccine products are inadvertently administered, no additional doses of either product are recommended at this time.

Are their potential side effects from the Moderna Vaccine?

The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes in the same arm as the injection, nausea and vomiting, and fever.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Question

How do mRNA vaccines work?

mRNA vaccines have strands of genetic material called mRNA inside a special coating. That coating protects the mRNA from enzymes in the body that would otherwise break it down. It also helps the mRNA enter the dendritic cells and macrophages in the lymph node cells near the vaccination site.
mRNA can most easily be described as instructions for the cell on how to make a piece of the “spike protein” that is unique to SARS-CoV-2. Since only part of the protein is made, it does not do any harm to the vaccinated person, but it is antigenic.
After the piece of the spike protein is made, the cell breaks down the mRNA strand and disposes of it using enzymes in the cell. The mRNA strand never enters the cell’s nucleus or affects genetic material.
Once displayed on the cell surface, the spike protein causes the immune system to begin producing antibodies which means the immune system is primed to protect against future infection.

Are their potential side effects from the Pfizer Vaccine?

Fatigue, headache, chills, and new or worsened muscle pain were most common. The majority of systemic events are mild or moderate in severity, after both doses.

Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) Questions

How do viral vector vaccines work?

Many vaccines use a weakened or inactivated form of the target pathogen to trigger an immune response. Viral vector vaccines use a different virus as a vector instead, which delivers important instructions (in the form of a gene) to our cells. For COVID-19 vaccines, a modified virus delivers a gene that instructs our cells to make a SARS-CoV-2 antigen called the spike protein. This antigen triggers production of antibodies and a resulting immune response. The virus used in a viral vector vaccine poses no threat of causing illness in humans because it has been modified or, in some cases, because the type of virus used as the vector cannot cause disease in humans.

Who can receive Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine?

Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized and recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.
The recommendation for the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine should be implemented in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s (ACIP) interim recommendations for allocating initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines.

How many doses of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine do patients need?

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