Among the variety of options that exist to deal with Covid-19 are messenger RNA vaccines. Its main representatives are those developed by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna. Both work with a new innovative technology that was already present for at least a decade but has now been perfected. For this reason, there is also a strong distrust among the population towards both.
What is this new technology about?
In the first instance it should be clear that messenger RNA vaccines they do not modify or interact with DNA in any way. The biological carries instructions to the cells to generate a protein that triggers an immune response.
In addition, it is necessary to point out that this type of technology does not contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus because what is administered is the code of the virus’s surface protein that, when deciphered by the cell, stimulates the production of this protein that then it presents itself as an antigen to the immune system.
Evidence indicates that mRNA remains in the cytoplasm for approximately nine days, long enough for the cell to transcribe instructions and generate the protein to be presented as antigen to stimulate activation of the immune system.
In general terms, the immunizations of both pharmaceutical companies offer high protection in people. Despite them, they have also faced some problems due to some side effects that they generate, although in very low amounts.
While today the existence of three other conditions that would be related to messenger RNA vaccines has been made known. Everything is based on the appearance of a small number of cases and that has generated an investigation in this regard.
More possible health risks
In this regard, the Safety Committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is the body in charge of the work. Through a statement shared by Reuters indicates that new side effects are erythema multiforme, glomerulonephritis, and nephrotic syndrome.
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It cannot yet be said that there is a direct relationship and that is precisely what should be investigated. At the moment it is handled as a possible association but it should not be an impediment to continue with the vaccination campaigns around the world.
Just last month the EMA found a relationship between a very rare cardiac inflammation and messenger RNA vaccines. Despite the above, the European regulator and the World Health Organization (WHO) made it clear that the benefits of these immunizations far outweigh the risks that may arise.
The EMA has not given details on the number of cases of the new conditions that have been registered after vaccination with the Pfizer and Moderna injections but said it has requested more data from the companies to study any possible relationship between them.