I’ll start by saying that I have two biology degrees – a BSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and an MSc in Molecular Medicine. I’ve been taught how to analyse scientific literature, and I also have a much deeper understanding of how biological systems work than the average person. Not trying to put anyone down, just stating that I am more knowledgeable than the average when it comes to vaccines and how they work.

None of the vaccines that have been made available alter your DNA. None. Vaccines work by eliciting an immune response. I’ll use an example of an mRNA vaccine – like the Pfizer vaccine – to explain how it does this without altering your DNA.

mRNA (short for messenger RNA) is the name given to a single-stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene. It is kind of the middle step in the process of making a gene into an actual protein (it goes DNA -> RNA -> protein). When mRNA is ‘read’ by special apparatus in the cell (ribosomes), it translates it into a protein, which can then go on to be used by the cell.

In the mRNA vaccines, mRNA coding for a certain coronavirus protein is used. When this is read by your cell’s ribosomes, it produces the protein. The mRNA is then degraded by your cell as it is no longer needed. The new protein is recognised as foreign by your immune system, which then goes on to produce antibodies against it. Specialised immune cells then remember how to produce these antibodies. If you then become infected with COVID-19, these cells can quickly produce the correct antibodies, getting rid of the infection rapidly.

Yes, the vaccines were all produced much more rapidly than usual, but this is due to a combination of being based on years of previous research on viruses like COVID-19, and also allowing the different phases of testing to be held closer together. Instead of vaccine authorisers only looking at the data after all the trials were over, they looked at it as the trials went on, allowing quicker approval. Ultimately, the quick turnaround for the covid vaccines is a very good thing for the scientific community. We shouldn’t have to wait ~10 years for a vaccine to be approved. This is a good advancement.

And whilst yes, the vaccine might not completely stop you from getting the virus, it has been shown to reduce the risk of getting severely ill. The AstraZeneca vaccine has also recently been shown to reduce the rate of transmission. These are all good things.

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to share the information that I have, from the perspective of someone who is highly educated in molecular biology and has a deep understanding of how vaccines work.