VACCINE RESOURCE COMMITTEE

of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association

View Full List of Vaccine Questions Here

General Vaccine Question #5:

What is the difference between mRNA and non-mRNA vaccines?

mRNA vaccines contain mRNA which provides the instructions for the body to produce the parts of the virus within its own cells. The mRNA vaccine can be produced much faster and more efficiently than other vaccine types. Other vaccines do not contain mRNA and instead use protein or other structures to induce an antibody response.

All vaccines teach the immune system how to recognize and fight off specific disease-causing germs. They help protect against disease without the risk of getting sick first. It is a safer way to become protected than taking the risk of getting the infection.

The building blocks of genetic material in the body have various forms:

DNA vs RNA vs mRNA
Stores the instructions is a short-lived is a messenger RNA
for the building and copy of DNA’s that carries instructions
running your body   instructions to make proteins

mRNA vaccines instruct cells to create a harmless version of  a pathogen’s antigen, which the body can use to trigger an immune response toward the foreign antigen- just like it would if it came in contact with the real virus. DNA is not involved and remains unchanged. An antigen is a subpart of a pathogen that causes the formation of antibodies.

Live vaccines

Live vaccines use a weakened form of a microbe  and thus avoids causing an illness; instead, theimmune system responds to the weakened microbes, producing strong protection against future infections.

Many live vaccines provide lifelong protection from a certain infection. However, because they contain a small amount of live virus, they may not be suitable for people with weakened immune systems.

Live vaccines can provide lifelong immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and chickenpox.  

Inactivated vaccines

Inactivated vaccines use dead microbes rather than live ones. They can offer as much protection as live microbes do. For some inactivated vaccines, booster shots may be necessary to produce ongoing immunity.

This type of vaccine can protect against influenza, polio and rabies.

Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines

These vaccine types use only part of a microbe, such as a protein, sugar, or casing that surrounds the microbe. They provide a strong immune response, but booster shots may be necessary. They are safe for most people, including those with weakened immunity.

These vaccines can protect against, shingles, whooping cough and pneumococcal disease.

Viral vector vaccines

These vaccines use a harmless virus as a delivery system. This vector virus is not the virus that causes the disease.

These vaccines can protect against ebola and the COVID-19 (Astra-Zeneca vaccine that is no longer used in Canada).

Sources

Immunize BC: The Tasics: How Vaccines Work
Science Up First: 5 common myths about COVID-19 vaccines
Government of Canada: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
Mayo Clinic: Different types of COVID-19 vaccines: How they work
Medical News Today: mRNA vaccine vs. traditional vaccines
World Health Organization: How do Vaccines Work