

Our body sees this spike protein as an invader and triggers the immune system, producing antibodies and T cells.
#CAL EXPO VACCINE CODE#
In all three vaccines, this code acts like a recipe to make a protein, called a spike. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made using messenger RNA, or mRNA, a technology that delivers a bit of genetic code to cells.

That means that people who get the J&J vaccine might not have to be monitored for 15 minutes after injection – easing and speeding up clinics.Ī: The J&J vaccine uses a harmless virus, called an adenovirus, to carry the genetic code. Significantly, no one suffered a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which is seen in Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. A few rare conditions appeared more common with the vaccine, such as blood clot-related conditions or tinnitus, a ringing in the ears. Unexpected side effects for the J & J vaccine occurred at the same rate overall among volunteers who received vaccine and placebo - about 0.5%. Rather, it shows that the immune system is kicking into gear. “It may be… that people who got vaccinated initially with Johnson & Johnson might be getting a Pfizer or Moderna booster that addresses the variant,” she said.Ī: Side effects seem milder – and there were no reports of anaphylaxis.Īll three vaccines have modest side effects, such as pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, and joint pain. It is a little harder to manufacture a different viral vector vaccine, like J&J’s. With the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, scientists just synthesize a different strand of messenger RNA, said Georgetown University virologist Angela Rasmussen on the “Track the Vax” podcast. It’s relatively easy to modify all three vaccines. Q: Is there a plan if it fails to work against a variant?Ī: Yes, it can be adjusted, or ‘boosted.’ Last week, the South African government switched to J & J’s vaccines, instead of using Novavax or AstraZeneca vaccines.īecause Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines were tested before the emergence of these troubling new variants, it’s not entirely clear how well they will work. It was 64% effective against more moderate disease. The vaccine’s effectiveness was not influenced by the high prevalence of a variant in Brazil. In South Africa, with a different variant virus, the vaccine reduced severe or critical COVID-19 by 81.7% starting 28 days after vaccination. Q: Can the new vaccine defend against dangerous variant viruses?
