On December 15, 2020, five health care workers at University of Utah Health became the first in Utah to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In the coming weeks and months, the vaccine will become available to high-risk populations and eventually to the general public. To keep you informed, here is expert information on the vaccine and how it works.
Find this and other resources about the COVID-19 vaccine via U of U Health here.
Pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer (jointly with BioNTech) and Moderna, have created effective new vaccines that rely on genetic material called messenger RNA (mRNA) to prevent people from getting ill from COVID-19.
Scientists have been researching and working with mRNA vaccine technology for decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic gave them the unique opportunity to put their knowledge and tools to the test and develop the first working mRNA vaccine. The Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine is the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use in the United States.
Despite the quick turnaround for these vaccines, they are still being held to the same rigorous standards for safety and efficacy. We break down how it works, its effectiveness and more to help you decide if the mRNA vaccine is right for you and your loved ones.
How do mRNA vaccines work?
The mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 are injected into the muscle of your upper arm. Once the mRNA is inside your body, your muscle cells will follow the genetic instructions that tell them how to make the spike protein (a small, harmless piece of the COVID-19 virus). The spike protein does not cause infection or cause people to become sick from COVID-19.
After the spike protein is made, your immune system will recognize that it doesn’t belong there. As a result, your immune system will begin making T-cells and antibodies that recognize the spike protein.
This process teaches your body how to recognize and destroy the virus if you are ever infected with COVID-19 in the future.
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