The increasing usage and competitive advantages of mRNA vaccines over conventional vaccines are coming more into light after the pandemic fever. Scientific advancements are constantly paving the way for serious advances in the field of vaccination. There are different types of vaccines used to treat different kinds of illnesses. mRNA is the next-generation vaccine that is based on gene-based research. It works with the cells to make proteins instead of introducing a piece of the virus to the immune system like conventional vaccines. Since its discovery in 1989, it has gone through multiple experimentations and development, leading to healthy and profound results. In the coming decades, however, the technique became impractical due to rapid climate change and unfavourable conditions. mRNA Vaccine vs Traditional Vaccines The booming success of the mRNA vaccine in such a short period of time can tell a lot about its efficacy, ease of production, flexibility, and level of immune response. It may differ for different illnesses, but compared to traditional vaccines, it has grown a benign reputation for saving time and preventing major side effects. Starting with production time, while a traditional vaccine can take over a month or even a year to discern and form, an mRNA vaccine takes only about a week to be generated. The digital sequencing of the DNA, as opposed to the tiring process of collecting the virus, adapting it to lab requirements, and growing it, is much simpler and more viable for the researchers. Moreover, the mRNA vaccine is safer to handle as one deals with a small batch of the virus to procure the DNA of the pathogen instead of growing large quantities of it. The absence of a live virus reduces the chances of causing sickness. mRNA vaccine is more flexible as its production process is more digital and can be scaled and standardized. It can also be made more accessible by digitally sharing the digital sequence of the DNA across different labs globally. It acts as a catalyst in generating suitable proteins to trigger the correct immune response. With traditional vaccines, a piece of the virus is injected into one’s body, and the immune system produces antibodies against it that prepares the body against similar viruses in the future. For this reason, traditional vaccines are more prone to causing severe illnesses. The need to control highly contagious diseases was explicitly recognized after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to some serious but required advancements in the field of vaccination. It accelerated the growth and development of mRNA vaccines, which have been researched for more than ten years. Moderna and BioNTech were among the first to obtain approval for their mRNA-based vaccines. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine uses mRNA that directs cells to produce copies of a protein called “spike protein” outside the coronavirus, which gets recognized by the immune system, stimulating an immune response. In such trying times, it helped save time and human resources with promising results and impressive production rates. With this technological breakthrough, more than 60% of the world’s population received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which helped control the pandemic, bringing today’s reality to life.
27 Oct 2022
Mimansha Walia
