COVID VACCINE 101 
On Twitter, it's difficult to get a clear, objective view on the COVID vaccine.
I have just had mine today, after I spent some time reading around it.
So here’s a thread to clear things up
:



On Twitter, it's difficult to get a clear, objective view on the COVID vaccine.
I have just had mine today, after I spent some time reading around it.
So here’s a thread to clear things up





To give you a HEAD START on an infection.

This can take several days.
A vaccine, however, is designed to give your immune system a ‘taste’ of a pathogen before you are exposed.
(A practice run).
This is done in the following ways:
Weakened Virus [Easy-mode]
DNA/RNA [Blueprint]
Protein [Deliveroo]
Viral vector [Vehicle]
(A practice run).
This is done in the following ways:




The lead candidates are type 2: DNA/mRNA 
How it works:
Genetic instruction is contained in a lipid nanoparticle carrier [Pfizer] or adenovirus shell [Oxford].
This enters your cell cytoplasm, & transcribed by your protein-making machinery to 3D-print the SPIKE PROTEIN

How it works:
Genetic instruction is contained in a lipid nanoparticle carrier [Pfizer] or adenovirus shell [Oxford].
This enters your cell cytoplasm, & transcribed by your protein-making machinery to 3D-print the SPIKE PROTEIN

The spike protein is the active part on the surface of the coronavirus. 
When that is recognised by your immune system, it generates antibodies:
so that next time that protein is recognised, it is destroyed on sight.

When that is recognised by your immune system, it generates antibodies:
so that next time that protein is recognised, it is destroyed on sight.

Adjuvants in the vaccine cause you to mount an immune response to lock in dem antibody gains. 
(Hence low grade inflammatory response post vaccination: sore arm, fever etc.)
It’s perfectly reasonable to ask questions and look at the data, and not be branded as ‘antivax’

(Hence low grade inflammatory response post vaccination: sore arm, fever etc.)
It’s perfectly reasonable to ask questions and look at the data, and not be branded as ‘antivax’

Answer:
Everything has a risk.
Sitting alone in your house has a risk.
You pick your problems.

Answer:
Severe side effects from vaccines tend to be seen within the first few months.
It is unlikely to have delayed complications without early clues, which we aren't seeing.
The real question is:
What is the risk of DISEASE vs VACCINE?

We are seeing COGNITIVE, RENAL, VASCULAR AND PULMONARY sequelae of the disease.
Not for the vaccine.
What is the risk of DISEASE vs VACCINE?


We are seeing COGNITIVE, RENAL, VASCULAR AND PULMONARY sequelae of the disease.
Not for the vaccine.

Answer: Survival is an incomplete picture. We need to look at COMPLICATION rate too.
In one study, 6 months after recovering, 63% of people experienced fatigue & muscle weakness. 26% experienced sleep disruption. 23% had anxiety/depression.

Answer: Vaccines can often provide MORE robust immunity than natural infection, WITHOUT having to suffer the disease.


It was produced quickly.
But normally, the delay in drug development comes from the gaps BETWEEN trials and funding bottlenecks.
This year, the world has THROWN money into this.

There’s much to gain for being first to market.

Yes, but not brand new.
This isn’t the first vaccine to be developed using mRNA.
They've been used before with flu, zika, rabies, CMV, ebola.

The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) advised:
‘Individuals with a history of immediate onset-anaphylaxis to multiple classes of drugs or an unexplained anaphylaxis should have the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.'
CONCLUSION: 
With the data we have available, the risk-benefit is well in favour of taking the vaccine, unless you’re an anaphylaxis-boy.

With the data we have available, the risk-benefit is well in favour of taking the vaccine, unless you’re an anaphylaxis-boy.
I do NOT have all the answers.
- data collection is ongoing,
- unless you’re a healthcare worker or over 70, you probably WON’T BE OFFERED it for a while still.
Until then, I’ll be the guinea pig for you.
You're welcome.
- data collection is ongoing,
- unless you’re a healthcare worker or over 70, you probably WON’T BE OFFERED it for a while still.
Until then, I’ll be the guinea pig for you.
You're welcome.

