How is the #Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine developed?
#SARSCoV2 is covered w/Spike proteins that it uses to grab human cells. The vaccine consists of a small genetic material "messenger RNA" that provides instructions for a human cell to make a version of that Spike protein🧵
#SARSCoV2 is covered w/Spike proteins that it uses to grab human cells. The vaccine consists of a small genetic material "messenger RNA" that provides instructions for a human cell to make a version of that Spike protein🧵
2. The mRNA is "translated" into Spike proteins in our cells. That activates our immune system to make antibodies & T cells so when we're exposed to the virus, we can quickly clear it. mRNA vaccines do not contain the virus itself—just the Spike part—& pose no risk of infection.
3. Pfizer's early results showed those w/ 2 injections, 3 weeks apart had 90% fewer cases of symptomatic #COVID19 than those w/placebo. It's too early to know how long immunity lasts. Also too early to know whether / to what extent new #SARSCoV2 mutations might evade immunity.
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