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How messenger RNA vaccines work
The first COVID-19 vaccines to reach the market are likely to be messenger RNA vaccines, or mRNA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mRNA vaccines work by teaching cells in the body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. Unlike many vaccines that use a weakened or inactivated form of a virus, mRNA vaccines do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19.
On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, explains how mRNA vaccines work, gives a status update on the pandemic and answers listener questions.
To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
Connect with others talking about the pandemic and supporting one another in the COVID-19 support group.
Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.
For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
Dr. Poland has served as a consultant for Merck & Co. Inc., Medicago Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Sanofi Pasteur, Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Dynavax Technologies Corp., Genentech Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., Kentucky BioProcessing Inc. and Genevant Sciences Corp., and Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. He is a paid scientific adviser for Johnson & Johnson. Honoraria: Elsevier.
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Is the information true going around the internet that it causes infertility in woman?
My experience tells me if it's on the internet not true. Just like on here anyone can basically say what they think.
Here is an example of what I think. 70 million Americans believe what they see on Fox news and social media.
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2 ReactionsThat's a lot of people in the US that 'believe' Fox News. Social media has gone nuts, hasn't it? I stick for medical information to the tried and true...Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Boston, UF and other top medical centers..I also use the national associations, like CDC, Epilepsy Foundation, etc. I do trust what I find on those sites. For serious info., I stay away from the internet unless I know it's a reliable site, not just opinion. For news, we choose what we think is most reliable.....we all have our personal favorites.
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4 Reactions@murphy1231213, thank you for checking about the validity of information circulating on social media and the Internet. I will submit your question for an upcoming Q&A with Dr. Poland.
In the meantime, I agree with @mazeppabob and @ess77. Rely only on information from reputable medical sources and discuss with your doctor. Above all, don't spread unfounded misinformation.
To your question about the COVID vaccine affecting fertility:
According to NHS surgeon and lecturer at Imperial College and the University of Sunderland, Dr Karan Rajan, "There is no reason to expect an effect on fertility, specific research would've been done if there were a plausible reason to expect this being a problem. Instead, the risk of Covid-19 affecting fertility is far greater."
If you are considering getting pregnant discuss the best vaccine options with your doctor.
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1 Reaction@murphy1231213, Dr. Poland answered your question about COVID-19, the vaccine and possible effects on fertility in today's podcast about the vaccine:
- A vaccine milestone https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/podcasts/newsfeed-post/a-vaccine-milestone/
See the question and answer at 11 minutes into the video
https://youtu.be/6m3Fdt91VJQ