What I learned about the Corona vaccine in an interview with a mRNA researcher
By: Sara Aurora
Tags: Interview, Expert, Coronavirus, Vaccine, Coronavirus Covid19

Corona is already a very controversial topic, with the approval of the vaccine, it has become even more itchy to talk about it. Aside from the ethical and moral questions, there are facts. BioNTech and Pfizer have launched one of the vaccines that has overcome clinical trials in several countries. The vaccine is based on mRNA technology. With the approval suddenly came a lot of concerns about this technology, questions like; “Does it now interfere with my DNA and can I become infertile with a vaccination?”. As anybody would I also asked myself how much truth is there to these rumours, after all that vaccine will be injected into my body. So I’ve decided to to an interview with an expert, from the University of Zurich, Steve Pascolo. And what I can tell you in advance: There is practically nothing to the rumours.

Steve Pascolo specialises in molecular biology as a tool for improving health. He has been researching RNA and the technology since 1996. He was kind enough to tell me honestly and openly about his experiences with the technology.

As he told me how mRNA works I’ve got to know how complicated and hard it is to understand the technology. The CDC explained it so everybody understands it. Here a snipped of their explanation.

mRNA vaccines have strands of genetic material called mRNA inside a special coating. That coating protects the mRNA from enzymes in the body that would otherwise break it down. It also helps the mRNA enter the dendritic cells and macrophages in the lymph node near the vaccination site. mRNA can most easily be described as instructions for the cell on how to make a piece of the “spike protein” that is unique to SARS-CoV-2. Since only part of the protein is made, it does not do any harm to the person vaccinated but it is antigenic(….)

My two main questions were, does it affect the DNA and could it make me infertile. His answer was a clear “NO”. He explained to me that the mRNA, which is in the vaccine, does not affect the DNA. In contrast to DNA viruses, this could be the case. By the way, rubella, mumps and measles are a kind of mRNA vaccine, they are attenuated viruses, but they are still alive. They release their RNA into our cells. The cells then release a protein and trigger an immune response. The synthetic mRNA vaccine triggers the exact same response.

He assured me that the mRNA vaccine is very safe. But it is true every vaccine triggers some kind of immune reaction, the reaction of the body can lead to symptoms like fatigue and fever, in some rare cases the immune reaction can also lead to problems. The risk exists with every vaccination.

He explained to me that there is no reason to believe that the vaccine is problematic during pregnancy. On the contrary, he suspects that the viral infection could be a problem during pregnancy. However, pregnant women who want to be vaccinated, should wait for the approval of the authorities.

When asked if he would vaccinate himself and his family, a quick and direct answer came; “Yes, of course.”

He wants his family and friends to be vaccinated with the very safe vaccine. The vaccine contains only 30 micrograms of mRNA, which is a miracle, he explained to me. He is convinced that thanks to the vaccination the pandemic will be over and we can return to a normal life.

It is also amazing that he already received mRNA injections 15 years ago. He wanted to try out for himself the mRNA he used for the vaccine he was working on. He did not have any problems with it and did not suffer any sequelae. So he also tells me “I can say for sure that the technology works and is safe, I mean I have tried it out myself and I still alive.”