What is vaccine made of

Once inside the cells, the DNA encoding for the coronavirus spike protein can be read by the cell and transcribed into mRNA. After injection, the mRNA from the vaccine is released into the cytoplasm of the cells. Once the viral protein is made and on the surface of the cell, mRNA is broken down and the body permanently gets rid of it, therefore making it impossible to change our DNA. These COVID vaccines are safe and went through the same rigorous testing process as other vaccines before being approved for emergent use in the United States.

It contains dead virus. Because the virus is still whole, it has all of the parts, in the correct shape, that can stimulate a response from the immune system — what we call the antigens. The immune response can be against multiple antigens. The Chinese vaccines — from Sinovac and Sinopharm — are the main ones using this platform.

The same approach was used for seasonal flu vaccines some years ago. The virus is thus a vehicle for bringing the genetic instructions on how to make the spike protein into the body. When you vaccinate someone with this harmless virus, it infects cells. The cells then read the gene the virus is carrying and start producing the spike protein, and the immune system mounts a response against this.

The hepatitis B , shingles , human papillomavirus HPV , and one of the influenza vaccines are made this way. The vaccine is composed of a protein that resides on the surface of the virus. This strategy can be used when an immune response to one part of the virus or bacteria is responsible for protection against disease. These vaccines can be given to people with weakened immunity and appear to induce long-lived immunity after two doses.

Watch this video to see how genetic engineering is used to make effective vaccines. Some bacteria cause disease by making a harmful protein called a toxin.

Several vaccines are made by taking toxins and inactivating them with a chemical the toxin, once inactivated, is called a toxoid. By inactivating the toxin, it no longer causes disease. The diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines are made this way.

Another strategy to make a bacterial vaccine is to use part of the sugar coating or polysaccharide of the bacteria. Protection against infection by certain bacteria is based on immunity to this sugar coating and not the whole bacteria. However, because young children don't make a very good immune response to the sugar coating alone, the coating is linked to a harmless protein this is called a "conjugated polysaccharide" vaccine.

The Haemophilus influenzae type B or Hib , pneumococcal , and some meningococcal vaccines are made this way. Two meningococcal vaccines, which prevent one particular type of the bacterium type B not contained in the other meningococcal vaccines, are made using two or more proteins from the bacteria, not the bacterial polysaccharide. Learn more about vaccine safety. Vaccines include ingredients to help your immune system respond and build immunity to a specific disease.

For example:. Learn more about how vaccines provide immunity. Some ingredients that are needed to produce the vaccine are no longer needed for the vaccine to work in a person.

These ingredients are taken out after production so only tiny amounts are left in the final product. A: No. Thimerosal has a different form of mercury ethylmercury than the kind that causes mercury poisoning methylmercury. Even so, most vaccines do not have any thimerosal in them. A: Yes.

They no longer have to be watched for 30 minutes after getting the vaccine. People who have severe egg allergies should be vaccinated in a medical setting and be supervised by a health care professional who can recognize and manage severe allergic conditions.