Scientists have been studying messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines for more than 20 years. Unlike some types of older vaccines, mRNA vaccines do not use weakened or inactivated viruses. Instead, the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines stimulate muscle cells to produce harmless spike proteins found on the outer shell of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These proteins trigger an immune response that teaches your body how to recognize and fight off the virus. These vaccines do not give you COVID-19 or alter your DNA in any way.
Supporting Links:
How mRNA vaccines work Nebraska Medicine (accessed 12/24)
https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/how-mrna-vaccines-work
https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/how-mrna-vaccines-work
COVID-19: The Disease & Vaccines Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (accessed 12/24)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21898-mrna-vaccines
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21898-mrna-vaccines
mRNA Vaccine Cleveland Clinic (accessed 12/24)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21898-mrna-vaccines
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21898-mrna-vaccines
Videos:
How mRNA vaccines work 1 min 23 sec
Harvard University Feb 2021
This video explains what an mRNA vaccine is and how it works.
mRNA vaccines, explained 6 min 47 sec
Vox Feb 2021
This video explains the history of mRNA vaccines, how they are different from other kinds of vaccines, and how the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines were developed so rapidly.