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Here are some resources I shared with my students related to the new coronavirus vaccines. First, a little info: Both are mRNA vaccines. What does that mean?
Rather than injecting an antigen, these vaccines inject mRNA (surrounded by a lipid shell) into the body. The body then translates the mRNA, making the spike protein that is on the surface of the coronavirus.
That spike protein functions as the antigen, and these proteins are then targeted by the host immune system, which generates antibodies. This is a really helpful explainer with handy figures: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/17/covid-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know/?arc404=true
Pfizer's vaccine (being made in Kalamazoo, MI!) needs to be kept ultracold. Why? There's great #scicomm here explaining why (comparing things to melting chocolate & M&Ms!): https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/11/17/935563377/why-does-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-need-to-be-kept-colder-than-antarctica
I also shared this podcast with @CarlZimmer (who is always great!) It helps explain why folks shouldn't be worried about having the spike protein inside them, and also talks about the risks of holiday gatherings. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000498316684
Finally, I shared this great piece by @LizNeeley and encouraged my students to use their new knowledge of biology (including of mRNA, vaccination, and disease ecology) to become nerd nodes of trust! https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/how-talk-about-coronavirus/609118/
