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The future does not look as bleak as a result of Coronavirus vaccines. There are initially three different vaccines that we will look at in detail. These vaccines comprise of Pfizer, Oxford AstraZeneca and Moderna. Pfizer and Moderna work in a similar way whereas the Oxford AstraZeneca way of working is slightly different. Other vaccines are in development and approval stages and these we will release later but we'll concentrate on these three first. All human cells, with one or two exceptions, contain DNA which is essentially the coding blocks for the cells to function. Viruses, including Coronavirus, contain a variant of this called RNA. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain small samples of a special type of Coronavirus RNA called mRNA or messenger RNA. When injected into the cells, it cannot function as a virus which causes disease, however, our body's own immune system detects it as foreign. On the other hand, the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine contains external spike proteins which gives Coronavirus its renowned appearance. These spike proteins are added onto a completely harmless virus called an adenovirus. In a similar way to other vaccines, when the immune system detects this, it becomes activated as it detects as foreign. At this point, with any of the vaccines, the immune system goes into overdrive and lots of defensive cells are generated. Some of these cells are what's called memory cells. These are created where many different infections enter the body, each unique to the present infection, ready to fight it should the body encounter it again. These memory cells stay in our circulation normally for the rest of our life, giving life-long protection. When we come into contact with the virus again, the memory cells become activated causing them to activate the required defensive cells much more quickly than the first time around. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of getting the Covid vaccine or boosters. Now, having the vaccine injected, it will do what it is supposed to do as long as it is stored at the correct temperatures and away from sunlight. Sunlight can alter the vaccine and render it useless as can leaving it outside the temperature ranges. Each Pfizer vaccine is transported in a medical grade freezer at temperatures of minus-70 degrees Celsius. It is then moved into a fridge where it can be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius for up to five days. Once taken out of the fridge, it has two hours to be diluted and administered, otherwise it risks losing its function. The AstraZeneca can be stored between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius in unopened vials for up to six months. However, the sooner it is used the better. However, once the vial is opened for extraction, it can be stored between 2 and 25 degrees Celsius and used within six hours. The Moderna vaccine arrives frozen between minus-25 and minus-15 degrees Celsius and then it should be stored between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius in a fridge. The vaccines then have a 30-day shelf life unless punctured. All thawed vaccines cannot be refrozen as this will severely damage it. Vaccines should be administered intramuscularly, most commonly into the deltoid muscle of the arm. If there is not enough muscle mass for this to happen, then the middle third of the outer thigh can be used.
The development of COVID-19 vaccines offers hope for the future amidst the pandemic. Let's explore the key aspects of three prominent vaccines: Pfizer, Oxford AstraZeneca, and Moderna.
The vaccines work differently:
Upon vaccination:
Proper storage and administration are crucial:
Consult with your doctor to understand the benefits and risks associated with COVID-19 vaccination or boosters.