Is the Covid-19 Vaccine Dangerous?

At last, the COVID-19 vaccine has arrived; the beloved cure we have all been waiting for. Finally, we can get back to backyard BBQ’s just in time for summer and not worry the people that were seen coughing earlier in the night. But wait a second, how do we know this vaccine is actually going to keep our bodies immune from the virus anyways, and is there any truth to that facebook post claiming that the vaccine is a “covert government experiment”? So many questions and so many different opinions can be overwhelming. That’s why we're here to break it all down for you in this article (or at least try to).

The Science

A good place to start is breaking down exactly what these scientists are injecting into our bodies, and whether or not it’s going to mutate our DNA and turn us into the hulk. (spoiler alert: sadly no). In simple terms, the covid-19 vaccine uses messenger RNA (MRNA); a newly developed technology to teach our bodies how to combat the virus. While some of you may be worried by the phrase “newly developed” , it's important to know that MRNA technology has been studied for several decades already, and researchers have even studied it to combat other illnesses such as rabies, influenza and even cancer. As to what exactly MRNA is and where it comes from, can be found already within our bodies. This is because MRNA is a naturally occurring molecule that is necessary for pretty much every biological process that goes on within our bodies, from the way we look to the way we speak.

So, what’s the difference between mRNA and DNA you may be asking yourself? Well one way to think about the role of MRNA and its relationship to DNA, is to imagine what goes into creating a movie. While our DNA has the job of writing the film’s script, MRNA acts as the director to actually bring that script's story line into life (alongside other molecules such as tRNA and rRNA). Unfortunately however, the end result of “director mRNA” is not exactly an Oscar-nominated film… but it does allow our bodies to function and develop immune responses against foreign particles! So the next time someone says their life is like a movie, just know they’re sort of, in a way not kidding!

Design of the Vaccine

So back to the main question of this article, will taking the mRNA covid-19 vaccine change your DNA and turn you into the hulk? Probably not. This is because the mRNA within the vaccine is still acting as a director and not a writer, but instead following a script made by scientists rather than the writings of our DNA. In other words, the mRNA faces the limitation of only being able to do the job it was told to do by the scientists that created it, rather than writing any of the story itself. So unless the scientists that created this vaccine wanted the entire human population to turn into giant green monsters, it is unlikely that you will be hulk smashing anytime soon. Or Will you….?



 

Associated Risks

Aside from the potential long term consequences, it’s also important to keep in mind the short term side effects that we know of already. For instance, you have probably heard of the thrombosis and herpes cases that have been in the news lately. Typically, these are rare occurrences that are triggered due to a combination of many non-vaccine-related factors. Nonetheless, no one can deny them. Also, individuals have commonly reported pain, redness and swelling at the site of the injection, as well as fatigue, chills, nausea and fevers days after the injection. While these side effects are commonly felt and tend to pass within just a few days, this may be a deciding factor for many people who are still skeptical of getting the poke. It's important to note however that over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen and antihistamines can all be used to treat these short-term side effects, after the vaccination has happened.

 

Conclusion

Of course, in science it is always important to never say never. This is why we said, “probably not” rather than a more reassuring “definitely not.” The long-term consequences of the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be guaranteed as with anything in life, as new discoveries and ideas are constantly being made. However, it is important to rest assured that any major side effects have yet to be discovered after decades of already studying mRNA, and scientists are confident that the pros of vaccination far outweigh the cons. Additionally, studies have shown that the injected mRNA tends to naturally disintegrate relatively quickly after enough of a response is created, and therefore not stay in our bodies forever.

Resources

Deciding to get vaccinated carries a lot of weight on both the personal and societal levels. It’s important to stay skeptical, but also be optimistic and trusting. Everything in the world is based on trust, after all. To help nudge you along to a more informed future, we’ve compiled the resources below for additional information.

Feature Article: Long-term Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccine? What We Know

Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines

Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines

Ribosomes, Transcription, and Translation

Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

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