Vaccines on corona prevention; A historic twist

Among the hundreds of coronaviruses existing in the world, SARS- CoV- 2 is a recently discovered coronavirus that affects humans. It was first observed in Wuhan city of China, in December 2019. This virus causes COVID- 19. The name Corona for this virus was given by the crown-shaped protein spikes around it. However, it is the RNA virus. Also, it causes upper respiratory infection as another coronavirus does. The speed of spreading it throughout the world is increasing rapidly. It also has killed a hilarious number of people around the world. At the same time, curative medicines are under observation. So, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared this epidemic period Pandemic recently. Hence, many researchers and companies are in a rush to find a solution to this pandemic. The vaccines are under observation in the preliminary phase.

Preventive Vaccines for Corona:

An American multinational pharmaceutical corporation "Pfizer" in conjunction with a German biotechnology company "BioNTech" has made a great effort to find vaccines "BNT162b2" for coronavirus. But the study of the vaccines is in the final phase. The vaccines are based on the principle of mRNA. A preliminary analysis of the vaccine suggested that it was 95% effective in preventing the symptoms of COVID- 19 disease. Also, it is safe to use though it has some temporary side effects. The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine "BNT162b2" for emergency use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). It is the vaccine to prevent COVID- 19. But it is only for use in individuals 16 years of age and older.

Also, the next American biotech company Moderna Inc. is on the same track to find the solution to the problem. Even this vaccine is an mRNA vaccine. It is "mRNA-1273". After the preliminary observation, Morderna Inc. states that this vaccine is 94.5% effective in the case of preventing the Coronavirus.

mRNA and mRNA-based medicines:

mRNA stands for messenger Ribonucleic Acid. It is a single-stranded molecule of RNA. Its main function is to carry the coding sequence for protein synthesis to ribosomes in the cell nucleus. So, an mRNA guides the ribosomes to use specific amino acids for a specific protein in the translation process. It is the process to synthesize protein after the transcription of DNA to RNA in the cell's nucleus. Also, mRNA produces instructions to make proteins that may treat or prevent disease.

An mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine is a vaccine that uses a copy of an mRNA to produce an immune response against the virus and bacteria. It shows a way to make a protein required for the initiation of the immune system. Thus, the production of antibodies with the help of the produced protein helps to protect against the virus. So, medicines are the set of instructions that direct the cells in the body to make proteins to prevent the disease. mRNA vaccines are the origin of the biotech industry. Accordingly, the biotech industry has its main motive to use a biological copy of mRNA to fight against bacterial and viral infections.

Composition of BNT162b2 Vaccine:

Since BNT162b2 Vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, the major and active component is a copy of messenger RNA. This vaccine does not contain any preservatives. The preservatives used in other vaccines like thimerosal contain mercury. Correspondingly, These mercury-containing preservatives may cause autism in patients. So, Pfizer neither used such preservatives nor microchips.

There are also other ingredients excluding mRNA. They are listed below.

Active Ingredient

• nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (mod-RNA)

Lipids

• (4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis (ALC-3015)
• (2- hexyldecanoate),2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-di-tetradecyl acetamide (ALC-0159)
• 1,2-distearoyl-sn glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DPSC)
• cholesterol

Salts

• potassium chloride
• monobasic potassium phosphate
• sodium chloride
• basic sodium phosphate dihydrate

Other

• sucrose

How does this vaccine work?

The nucleoside-modified messenger RNA present in an mRNA vaccine delivers the code to make a bacterial or viral protein to the ribosomes in the cell. Our immune system then develops the tool in response to the proteins made in the cells to react to future infections with pathogens.

How to vaccinate?

Both vaccines are vaccinated in 2 shots in a certain interval of days. Also, immunization is done by receiving intramuscular injections in the muscles of the upper arm.

Side effects of Pfizer vaccine BNT162b2

There are some undesirable effects of this medical treatment. These are the side effects of this vaccine but they are temporary. Most of the common side effects are:

• The shot part of the body ( muscles of the upper arm)
  • pain
  • Swelling
  • Redness
•  Throughout the body
  • Chills
  • Tiredness
  • Headache

The observer observes these symptoms a day to two days after getting the vaccine. Also, they might get flu symptoms. But they should go away in a few days since they are short-term effects.