‘Is the Oxford vaccine live?’*

A thread.

*spoiler alert: the answer is NO.

Please RT!

There has been a lot of confusion about this and and some individuals who may not have understood all the data have been on national news saying the vaccine is live and not safe for people who have a compromised immune system.

This is INCORRECT.

The Oxford vaccine is made from an altered version of a virus that causes the common cold in monkeys, not humans.

In addition, it isn’t what we would describe as “live” because genes have been removed from the virus that mean it is no longer able to cause disease.

This means that the virus cannot ‘replicate’, a process which allows the virus to create more versions of itself.

A virus needs to do this to be able to cause disease and the virus used in the Oxford vaccine CANNOT do this.

The MMR vaccine for example IS a live vaccine because it CAN replicate and could cause infection.

Vaccines that CAN replicate (remember the one in the Oxford vaccine CANNOT) should not be given to people who are immune suppressed.

The MHRA and Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have said that either vaccine can be given to people who are immune compromised and there is, repeat after me, *NO PREFERABLE VACCINE*.

Please, don’t wait to receive a different vaccine because you think it might be better or more safe, the Oxford vaccine will be absolutely fine.

If you have more questions you need answering, you can watch a Facebook live @bloodcancer_uk did with experts and a member of the JCVI here: https://www.facebook.com/bloodcanceruk.charity/videos/880047376092462