Why do some people think that the COVID-19 vaccines aren’t really vaccines and should instead be classified as gene therapy?
The usual suspects…
The COVID-19 Vaccines As Gene Therapy
Of course, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are actually vaccines.
Vaccine: A product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but can also be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose.
Immunization: The Basics
Much like MMR, polio, and smallpox vaccines, the mRNA COVID-19 are actually vaccines.
Well, maybe not exactly like the MMR, polio, and smallpox vaccines…
The thing is, there are a lot of different types of vaccines!
Just consider how many different COVID-19 vaccines are being developed, from attenuated live and inactivated virus vaccines to DNA and protein subunit vaccines. And don’t forget the non-replicating and replicating viral vector vaccines and virus like particle vaccines. All together, over 200 vaccines are still in various pre-clinical and clinical development!
What do they have in common?
They are all vaccines!
They will all stimulate your immune system to produce immunity to COVID-19 – or at least they all will hopefully be found to provide immunity to COVID-19 once their clinical trials are complete, as have those COVID-19 vaccines that have already received an EUA.
“The modRNA in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is formulated in lipid particles, which enable delivery of the RNA into host cells to allow expression of the SARS-CoV-2 S antigen. The vaccine elicits an immune response to the S antigen, which protects against COVID-19.”
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
Still, although they are clearly vaccines, could mRNA vaccines be considered gene therapy?
“mRNA never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA (genetic material) is kept.”
Understanding mRNA Vaccines
No.
“Gene therapy is a technique that modifies a person’s genes to treat or cure disease.”
What is Gene Therapy?
While they do use gene therapy technology, since they use mRNA and don’t actually modify your genes, they can’t really be considered as gene therapy.
Does it matter?
Apparently to some folks it does… Or at least it is a way for some to use to try and scare others away from getting vaccinated and protected against COVID-19.
Don’t believe them.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, with few risks, and are obviously necessary.
More on COVID-19 Vaccines and Gene Therapy
- A Biology Lesson On Residual DNA in Vaccines
- I’m Not Anti-Vaccine, I Just Don’t Believe in the COVID-19 Vaccine
- COVID-19 Vaccination Questions and Answers
- The Truth About COVID-19 Vaccines
- Fainting After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
- Have Thousands Been Negatively Affected After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine?
- COVID-19 VAERS Reports
- Deaths Following COVID-19 Vaccination – Understanding Background Rates
- Allergic Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines
- CDC – Immunization: The Basics
- CDC – Understanding and Explaining mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines
- CDC – Understanding mRNA Vaccines
- How does gene therapy work?
- FDA – What Is Gene Therapy?
- Gene Therapy Basics
- FDA – Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
- FDA – Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
- The Vaccine is Here But So Is The Fear
- Covid-19 Vaccines Can’t Alter Your DNA, Here’s Why
- Fact check: COVID-19 vaccines won’t alter recipient DNA; frontline workers have suffered directly from the virus
- Fact-check: Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter your DNA?
- No, the Moderna and Pfizer RNA vaccines for COVID-19 will not “permanently alter your DNA”
- mRNA vaccine myths
- Andrew Wakefield spews nonsense about how the COVID-19 vaccine will “permanently alter your DNA”
- Dr. Carrie Madej: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are transhumanism!
- The latest antivax false claim: mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 are not vaccines but “medical devices” or “gene therapy”
Last Updated on February 8, 2021