A look into the different types of COVID-19 vaccines

Biology student Steven Rindner explores a very timely and relevant subject nowadays - the COVID-19 vaccines. There are four types that he will discuss in today’s article.

mRNA vaccines

Steven Rindner explains that mRNA (or Messenger RNA) vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This will instruct the cells to replicate the protein that is unique to the virus. After doing so, the informed cells will destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. This will teach the body to recognize the virus protein by building T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight COVID-19 if infected in the future. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use this type of vaccine.

Protein Subunit vaccines

This type of vaccine only uses a specific part of the virus for the body to recognize the virus that causes COVID-19, explains Steven Rindner. These so-called harmless subunits may be proteins or sugars. But once vaccinated, your body will build T-lymphocytes and antibodies that will remember how to fight the virus in case of an infection. Novavax uses this type of vaccine.

Vector vaccines

A vector is known as the safe, modified version of the virus introduced by the vaccine to the body. Steven Rindner adds that the purpose of the vector is to deliver a genetic code for the antigen. To illustrate further, the vector is best known as the spike proteins around the surface of the coronavirus, which attach to infect the cells. The cells will then be instructed to produce large amounts of antigens, which will trigger the immune response. Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sputnik V of Gamaleya Research Institute use this type of vaccine.

Whole virus vaccines

A fourth type, the whole virus vaccine, provides protective immunity by using a weakened or deactivated form of the pathogen that causes COVID-19, explains Steven Rindner. Both the Sinopharm and Sinovac brands use these types of pathogens to trigger an immune response.