Types of COVID-19 Vaccines

Question 1

What are the two types of vaccines used to combat the spread of COVID-19?

Answer 1

1. mRNA vaccines
2. Protein sub-unit vaccines

Question 2

What is an mRNA vaccine?

Answer 2

Is a vaccine that uses a small piece of genetic material called messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) to instruct cells in the body to produce a specific protein that is part of the pathogen and therefore produces an immune response.

Question 3

How do mRNA vaccines work?

Answer 3

1. The RNA in the vaccine corresponds to a viral protein, usually a small piece of a protein found on the virus’s outer membrane.
2. Using this mRNA allows cells to produce the viral protein.
3. The viral protein is presented on the surface of cells which triggers an immune response.
4. The immune system recognizes that the protein is foreign and produces antibodies against it.
5. Immune cells also activate T cells in cells that have been infected with the virus.
6. mRNA from vaccines does not enter the nucleus and does not alter DNA.
7. mRNA vaccines do not contain any pieces of the virus.

Question 4

What protein do mRNA vaccines enable the body to form?

Answer 4

The “spike protein”

Question 5

What is an mRNA vaccine administered in Australia used for COVID-19?

Answer 5

Moderna

Question 6

What is a protein sub-unit vaccine?

Answer 6

Instead of using whole dead or attenuated micro-organisms, Sub-unit vaccines use a fragment of the organism to provoke the immune response. Therefore protein sub-unit vaccines contain a fragment of a protein or a protein subunit, which can stimulate an immune response without causing disease.

Question 7

How does protein sub-unit vaccines work?

Answer 7

1. Protein sub-unit vaccines contain a harmless spike protein.
2. APCs process the protein and present it to the immune cells, which triggers an immune response.
3. The immune system cells will recognise such spike proteins as a threat and create antibodies and defensive white blood cells, therefore building an immune response against it.
4. The immune cells also activate T cells, which can help destroy cells that have been infected with the virus.
5. If you are later infected with COVID-19 the formed antibodies will fight the virus.

Question 8

What is a protein sub-unit vaccine administered in Australia used for COVID-19?

Answer 8

Novavax

Question 9

What is the main difference between the mRNA and protein sub-unit vaccines?

Answer 9

Protein sub-unit vaccines provide/contain the spike protein, whereas mRNA vaccines cause the body to produce spike proteins.