Understanding the Covid-19 Vaccine

I am a firm believer in the importance and efficacy of vaccinations and the science behind how they work. Vaccines are believed to have been around for centuries, with some claims dating back as far as 200 BCE. Several vaccine history accounts detail the use of inoculation to smallpox in China and India that involved grinding up the scabs that form and blowing the matter into the nostril or scratching the smallpox matter into the skin. Later Edward Jenner would use the skin scratch technique using cowpox pustules to provide protection against smallpox in 1796. Now, thanks to research and innovation into vaccines the medical community has nearly succeeded in eradicating diseases like smallpox, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (though it's vital to note that due to anti-vaccine propaganda numbers have begun rising again.)

On January 8, 20201 I was fortunate enough to receive the first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination. I had done quite a bit of research into the vaccine as it's using a new technology with mRNA (Messenger RNA.) Messenger RNA is a single strand molecule that corresponds to the genetic sequence of DNA. When a vaccine is introduced into our bodies with mRNA it produces an immune response that alerts our body's protection systems to attack any virus that contains some of that specific RNA information. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccine it teaches our cells to recognize and attack the spike proteins of the Coronavirus. (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html for detailed information)

Over the next few days I'll be releasing a series of posts here and on Instagram detailing my vaccination experience. Stay tuned!