COVID-19
VACCINES
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THEM
MAKING A VACCINE:
STUDYING PROTEIN STRUCTURES
To fight the COVID-19 outbreak, scientists began by analyzing the structure of the virus’ proteins. Visualizing these structures is key to understanding how the virus invades our cells and hides from our defense mechanisms. Scientists have found important proteins that can be used as targets in vaccination, such as the Spike protein. This protein is found on the surface of the virus and is necessary for viral entry into human cells.
HOW DO VACCINES WORK?
Vaccines stimulate our immune responses to protect against infectious diseases. They prompt our cells to recognize and protect us from antigens (foreign agents) by producing antibodies. Sometimes, the process of building immunity after vaccination can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are expected.
The goal of vaccines is to make our bodies produce protective antibodies.
COVID-19 vaccines expose our immune system to Spike proteins, which induce the production of these antibodies.
You cannot get COVID-19 from a COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 VACCINE TECHNOLOGIES
THE DIFFERENT COVID-19 VACCINES
* Final clinical review by WHO in progress as of March 17, 2021.
** Efficacy defined as the prevention of symptomatic disease for fully vaccinated individuals.
WHICH VACCINE SHOULD I GET?
THE BEST COVID-19 VACCINE IS THE ONE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO YOU.
All approved vaccines are safe and effective. Moreover, no individual has died of COVID-19 after completing their vaccination schedule. When it is your turn, get the vaccine! You are not only protecting yourself, but everyone around you.
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REFERENCES
1. NIH Director’s Blog: Structural Biology Points Way to Coronavirus Vaccine. https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/03/03/structural-biology-points-way-to-coronavirus-vaccine/. Accessed on March 2, 2021.
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