The Covid-19 Vaccine; What is it?

    The spread of Covid-19 has threatened the health and safety of everyone, scientists and researchers have been looking for a cure or any easy way to dissipate the virus. As of now, the best resort in containing the spread of the virus is through a vaccine. Various companies have been producing and manufacturing Covid-19 vaccines in hopes of stopping the virus. And though the testing of vaccines has been successful, can we guarantee its safety?

    There are three types of Covid-19 vaccines. The mRNA vaccines, Protein subunit vaccines, and the Vector vaccines. The mRNA vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future. Protein subunit vaccines work in a similar way, however, the material used is a harmless protein that causes Covid-19 instead of the entire germ. And lastly, the Vector vaccines contain a modified version of a different virus than the one that causes COVID-19. Inside the shell of the modified virus, there is material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This is called a “viral vector.” This vaccine also works similarly to the other vaccines. There are 7 different Covid vaccine brands that are in use as of recently. Brands such as Pfizer and Moderna have shown an effectivity rate as high as 95%. AstraZeneca has an efficacy of 70%, Johnson and Johnson has an efficacy of 66%, Russia’s Sputnik has an efficacy of 91.4%, Sinovac with an efficacy of 50.38%, and Novavax with an efficacy of 89.3%.

    The Covid-19 vaccines have gone through various tests to ensure its the safety and feasibility. As the vaccine has been distributed and used among countries, there are little to no cases of fatalities proving the effectiveness and safety of the virus. There are no complications recorded after taking the vaccine. However, side-effects are very common after taking the vaccination. Though the vaccine is not a cure for the virus, it still guarantees us that it can lessen the chances of contracting the virus, and it also lessens the fatality of the virus if it is contracted.


Reference/s:

May 27, 2021. Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work. Centers for Disease and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.htm.

COVID-19 Vaccine Health Center. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/default.htm.

Rachel Nania, Christina Ianzito and Dena Bunis, June 14, 2021.  What to Know About the Coronavirus Vaccines. AARP. https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/coronavirus-vaccine-research.html.

Elizabeth Chuck, September 23, 2020. Many parents are hesitant to give their kids a Covid-19 vaccine. What if schools require it?. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/many-parents-are-hesitant-give-their-kids-covid-19-vaccine-n1240741.

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