How does the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) vaccine insert new genetic material into the body?

From the Guidelines

The COVID-19 vaccines do not insert new DNA into the human body. The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) use messenger RNA that instructs cells to produce the spike protein found on the surface of the coronavirus, but this mRNA never enters the cell nucleus where DNA is stored 1. The mRNA is temporary and degrades quickly after protein production. Vector vaccines (like Johnson & Johnson) use a modified adenovirus to deliver genetic instructions, but these also do not alter human DNA. The adenovirus cannot replicate in human cells and the genetic material it carries does not integrate into human chromosomes. After triggering an immune response, the vaccine components are eliminated from the body. This is why vaccines require specific dosing schedules - the immune system needs to be trained through exposure to the spike protein, but the vaccine material itself does not become a permanent part of your genetic makeup.

Key Points to Consider

• The COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in various populations, including those with cancer 1.
• The vaccines do not alter human DNA, and the genetic material they carry does not integrate into human chromosomes.
• The immune response triggered by the vaccines is temporary, and the vaccine components are eliminated from the body.
• The dosing schedules for the vaccines are designed to train the immune system to recognize the spike protein and provide protection against COVID-19.

Clinical Implications

• Patients with cancer can receive COVID-19 vaccines, and the vaccines have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization 1.
• The vaccines can be administered to patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy, but the timing and interval between the vaccine and the last cycle of chemotherapy should be carefully considered 1.
• Patients who have recently had a COVID-19 infection should postpone immunization for 2-3 months 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

The nucleoside-modified mRNA in Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is formulated in lipid particles, which enable delivery of the nucleoside-modified mRNA into host cells to allow expression of the SARS-CoV-2 S antigen. The Covid vaccine does not insert new DNA into the body. Instead, it uses mRNA to enable the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 S antigen in host cells, which then elicits an immune response to protect against COVID-19 2.

• The vaccine delivers nucleoside-modified mRNA into host cells using lipid particles.
• This process allows for the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 S antigen, but does not involve inserting new DNA into the body.

From the Research

Covid Vaccine and DNA Insertion

• The Covid vaccine does not insert new DNA into the body in the traditional sense. Instead, mRNA vaccines, such as those developed by Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer, use a piece of genetic material called messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct cells to produce a specific protein [ 3, 4 ].
• DNA vaccines, on the other hand, use a piece of genetic material called DNA to instruct cells to produce a specific protein. However, the DNA is not inserted into the host genome, but rather remains in the cytoplasm of the cell [ 5 ].
• There have been concerns raised about the potential for residual DNA impurities in mRNA vaccines, but a recent study found that the concentration of product-related DNA impurities in approved mRNA vaccines coincides with the approved mRNA specifications [ 6 ].
• The study used various methods, including Qubit fluorimetric quantitation and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), to accurately quantify RNA and DNA concentrations in several individual mRNA vaccine vials [ 6 ].
• The results of the study demonstrate that earlier published claims of high amounts of DNA impurities in vaccine mRNA products are not correct and are a consequence of extraordinary high RNA and lipid concentrations [ 6 ].

Mechanism of Action

• mRNA vaccines work by introducing a piece of genetic material called messenger RNA (mRNA) into cells, which then use the instructions in the mRNA to produce a specific protein [ 3, 4 ].
• The protein produced by the cells is recognized by the immune system as foreign, triggering an immune response that helps to protect against infection [ 3, 4 ].
• DNA vaccines, on the other hand, use a piece of genetic material called DNA to instruct cells to produce a specific protein. The DNA is taken up by cells, where it is transcribed into mRNA and then translated into protein [ 5 ].

Safety and Efficacy

• The safety and efficacy of Covid vaccines have been extensively studied in clinical trials, with the results showing that the vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization due to Covid-19 [ 7 ].
• However, there have been reports of adverse events associated with the vaccines, including serious adverse events such as death, cancer, and autoimmune disorders [ 7 ].
• The risk-benefit balance of the vaccines is still being debated, with some studies suggesting that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks [ 7 ].