As the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine rolls out, many of our patients have been asking important questions about it. As Naturopathic Doctors, we believe that knowledge is power. We are also huge advocates of preventative medicine, and we see vaccination as an important aspect of preventative medicine. In this article, we have answered some of the most common questions about the vaccine. We also will walk you through how to naturally support your immune system when you go in for your shot.
Here are some key points to remember about the COVID-19 vaccines:
- They do not contain the COVID-19 virus
- There is zero chance that the vaccines will give you a COVID-19 infection
- They do not alter your DNA
- They do not contain mercury, aluminum, or any other metals.
How do the COVID-19 vaccines work?
Moderna and Pfizer
The two vaccines that are currently available are made by Moderna and Pfizer. One of the coolest things about these vaccines is that they don’t use any viral particles at all. Rather, they use a type of code that our bodies naturally use to make proteins, called messenger RNA. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, acts as a blueprint for our cells to build proteins. The mRNA in these vaccines contains the information that our cells can use to make a small part of the COVID-19 virus, called the spike protein.
When the vaccine is injected, the mRNA enters some of your muscle cells, where tiny protein factories, called ribosomes, translate the mRNA code into a spike protein. The cell then dons the spike protein on their cell surface, like a new hat. Our immune cells then recognize this new “hat” as one they have never seen before, and flag it with markers called antibodies. At this point, the immune system has created a memory for this spike protein, and has a way to recognize it and get rid of it in the future.
The next time you are exposed to the COVID-19 virus, your immune system is primed and ready to fight it. The antibodies will bind to the spike protein on the COVID-19 virus and prevent the virus from entering other cells. They also act as targets, signaling “this is an invader, come destroy it.” This means that your body deals with the virus ninja style, and you may not even know that you had the virus.
Johnson & Johnson
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine, slated to roll out within the next month, has a similar end goal to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines but uses a different route of delivery. This vaccine is called an adenovector vaccine. It got this name because it uses an inactivated adenovirus, or the virus that causes the common cold. Since the virus is inactivated, it is not able to cause a cold. Rather, it acts as a vehicle for the genetic material for the COVID-19 spike protein, like a spaceship delivering humans to the moon.
After the vaccine is injected, these viral vehicles carry mRNA to our cells, and the cells’ machinery then produces and expresses the spike protein. Once they have their spike protein “hats,” the rest of the immune process is similar to what I described above.
One of the benefits of using the inactivated virus as in this vaccine technology is that they can be more easily transported and distributed. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use tiny fat pockets to carry the genetic material of the vaccine, and therefore need to be kept at very cold temperatures. Since the Johnson and Johnson vaccine won’t need these special conditions, they will be able to be distributed much faster. With the addition of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines, the United States should be able to offer a vaccine to any adult who wants one by the end of May 2021.
Can the COVID-19 vaccine make you ill with COVID-19?
The answer to this question is a clear and loud, NO. In contrast to some vaccines for other diseases, this vaccine does not contain any virus at all. Therefore, there is nothing to infect your cells. While you may feel sick for a short period of time after getting the vaccine, these sensations are your body’s normal reaction to a new particle that it doesn’t recognize. However, since the virus is not present, your symptoms will be much more mild than if you were to get the virus itself.
Does the COVID-19 vaccine alter our DNA?
While it may sound strange and scary for a vaccine to tell your cells to make proteins, it is important to understand that the mRNA breaks down after it delivers the message to your cells, and it does NOT alter your DNA. Our DNA is well-protected in the cell’s nucleus, and the mRNA in the vaccine stays outside of this protective shell, and does not interact with DNA at all. While the adenovector vaccines do enter the nucleus to make the spike protein, they don’t change the structure of our DNA.
How effective is the COVID-19 vaccine?
In a large, placebo controlled trial, the Moderna Vaccine was shown to be 94.1% effective in preventing symptoms of COVID 19, 2 weeks after the second dose. In an equally rigorous study, the Pfizer vaccine was 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 symptoms, one week after the second dose. In simple terms, these results are very encouraging.
One important caveat is that we still don’t have information about whether or not vaccinated individuals are able to transmit the virus. Another wildcard here is the emergence of new variants of the virus. So far, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines appear to be effective against the variants that have emerged in England, and they are both potentially less effective against the South African variant. So, it is still important for folks who are vaccinated to follow regular safety protocols, including wearing masks, social distancing, and frequent hand washing, until we have more information on transmission rates.
The effectiveness of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine appears to be lower than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, but still very effective in preventing severe disease. Worldwide, efficacy rates were found to be 66%, and 71% in the US. However, it was found to be 85% effective in preventing severe disease. Though this is less effective than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, it is still a very successful rate. Furthermore, since they can be distributed more quickly and you only need to get one shot, the Johnson & Johnson vaccines will likely greatly accelerate the vaccination
What is “herd immunity” and why is it important?
“Herd immunity” is when a large enough portion of a population is immune to a disease that the disease is no longer able to survive. As a society, we could reach herd immunity against COVID-19 when enough people are either vaccinated or have natural immunity against the virus such that infection rates decline. Unfortunately, the large number of people that are infected right now is giving the virus a chance to not only replicate and pass to other people, but also to mutate. The more the virus has a chance to mutate, the more likely more virulent strains will arise. This is the case with the new variants that are emerging and is one of the reasons why vaccinating enough people in a timely manner is critical. If we can vaccinate enough people before the virus has a chance to develop more variants, we have a better chance of reaching herd immunity with these new vaccines.
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
As mentioned above, the vaccine is recommended in an attempt to achieve herd immunity in our community. WA state crossed a milestone this month, having vaccinated 1 million residents in the state! (source) More than 12% of the US population has also been vaccinated (source) at this time.
Those currently eligible for vaccinations include community members in phases 1A and 1B, which corresponds to our oldest residents and highest-risk caregivers and healthcare workers. You can find the descriptions of specific vaccination phases using this tool from the DOH: link. Local clinics and pharmacies in Jefferson County are also vaccinating; follow this link to be notified when it is your turn. The federal government is providing this vaccine free of charge to all US residents. (source)
Who Should Not Get Vaccinated?
Certain people should not get this vaccine. Here are the recommendations from the CDC of those who should forego the vaccine at this time:
- “If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction—even if it was not severe—to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine”
An immediate allergic reaction occurs within 4 hours of getting vaccinated; symptoms include hives, swelling, wheezing, or respiratory distress. (source)
Who Might Be a Candidate but Should Check First?
The people who should discuss with their healthcare provider whether the vaccine is a safe for them include the following:
- People with weakened immune systems (ie. HIV)
- People with autoimmune conditions
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Though these diverse groups of people were included in clinical trials, the CDC is in the process of gathering more statistical information before making a recommendation. (source) (source).
We are currently encouraging most pregnant women to get the mRNA vaccine as the research shows immunity can be passed to the baby in utero. Logically, we can assume from other vaccine models that breastfeeding provides baby with antibodies and likely partial immunity.
At this point, it is a race between the variants mutating and the vaccine distribution. If you are eligible for the vaccine, do your part to protect yourself and your community.
Make sure to check out our COVID Vaccination Series 2 post next week on What to Expect.
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