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Why are mRNA vaccines so exciting? - Harvard Health

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The very first vaccines approved in the US to prevent COVID-19 were an entirely new type: mRNA vaccines. Over the past year, the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines have proven unusually effective and safe. How do mRNA vaccines differ from traditional vaccines, and what makes them so exciting? Viruses contain a core of genes made of DNA or RNA wrapped in a coat of proteins. The main goal of a vaccine designed for a specific infectious agent, such as the virus that causes COVID-19, is to teach the immune system what that virus looks like. Some traditional vaccines use weakened virus, while others use just a critical piece of the virus's protein coat. In the case of COVID-19, a piece called the spike protein is the critical piece. Once educated, the immune system will recognize and vigorously attack the actual virus, if it ever enters the body. Traditional vaccines work: polio and measles are just two examples of serious illnesses brought under control by vaccines. Collectively, va

November 1, 2021 By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD , Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing Share {} }" > Share this page to Facebook Share this page to X Share this page via Email { this.copied = true; setTimeout(() => this.copied = false, 1000); }); } }" > Copy this page to clipboard Print This Page Click to Print The very first vaccines approved in the US to prevent COVID-19 were an entirely new type: mRNA vaccines. Over the past year, the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines have proven unusually effective and safe. How do mRNA vacc

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