Cause And Effect

mRNA Vaccines

There is a heated discussion taking place on social media, among scientists and doctors regarding the efficacy and safety of mRNA vaccines. These discussions are being polarised often in favour of vaccination with some advocates of vaccination insisting that they should be mandatory. Mainstream media has adopted a pro-mRNA stance often attempting to smear, suppress or debunk genuine concerns. To understand the arguments we need some basic background knowledge.

mRNA

"Messenger RNAs, also known as mRNA, are one of the types of RNA that are found in the cell. This particular one, like most RNAs, are made in the nucleus and then exported to the cytoplasm where the translation machinery, the machinery that actually makes proteins, binds to these mRNA molecules and reads the code on the mRNA to make a specific protein. So in general, the DNA for one gene, can be transcribed into an mRNA molecule that will end up making one specific protein." In other words the mRNA is a messenger that enables the flow of genetic information in a cell from DNA through RNA to proteins. DNA makes RNA makes protein therefore the mRNA is not a protein but the precursor that stimulates protein production. This distinction may or may not be important when we discuss mRNA vaccines. mRNA Vaccine Approval Well this is a subject that is hotly debated and the interpretation of policies has been manipulated by all involved in the debate. The discussion revolves around whether the vaccines have completed trials, have they been approved, and is it normal for vaccines to be introduced into the population and trials continued. In my opinion the mRNA vaccine trials have not been completed. They were introduced under emergency measures without completing the usual processes. Vaccines normally take 5-15 years to reach distribution to the general population. The current mRNA vaccines were introduced under emergency measures in 6-8 months. Reuters published a fact check article titled: "It is standard practice for vaccine safety monitoring to continue after approval". The article is interesting in how it uses words interchangeably to confuse the reader and create the notion that it is normal for vaccines to be introduced while undergoing trials. They acknowledge that a social media post, "correctly notes that the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been given an “estimated study completion date” of Jan. 31, 2023 and the COVID-19 vaccine created by Moderna, is expected to end on Oct. 27, 2022." What Reuters do not explain is that there is a considerable difference between an observational study and interventional trial. An interventional study refers specifically to a clinical trial in which researchers are testing a treatment method. The treatment methods are still being trialled by the researchers in regards to children pregnancy and alternating vaccine interventions. In addition to these trials the Covid or Human Challenge study was introduced. The study recruited a small number of volunteers in the age group 18-30 to observe the infection and its response to vaccines. So it it normal to monitor newly introduced vaccines / medicines? The simple answer is yes and in the UK this is achieved through the https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ Health professionals and the public can report adverse effects on this site. Newly introduced vaccines or medicines are also monitored through the Black Triangle Scheme. What is interesting when reading the reasons for the Black Triangle Scheme is the following statement: "When new medicines are initially approved, the relatively small number of participants in clinical trials means that not all safety issues may be established. It is only when the medicine is used in a large number of patients that rare or long latency adverse reactions (i.e. those taking a longer time to develop)." It is clear that interventional trials are ongoing and monitoring taking place. However, there is another concern that has been overlooked. How many people who have been vaccinated are reporting adverse events? The vaccine literature, doctors, nurses and the media are informing people of what reactions to expect. Does this discourage people from reporting a headache or rash because it is an expected reaction? Leaky And Perfect Vaccines So why should we be concerned as to whether or not trials are in progress or have been completed. Marek's disease is a highly contagious viral disease of poultry characterized by T-cell lymphomas and peripheral nerve enlargement. Some scientists have suggested that the vaccine used to prevent Marek's could lead to stronger variants. These concerns are now being expressed by some scientists studying mRNA vaccines. The concern in terms of mRNA vaccines is that a vaccine that only reduces symptoms could increase the risk of stronger variants. These concerns have been questioned but let us take a closer look. In his article Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche a virologist explains the dangers of leaky vaccines. Again some reporters have chosen to do a hit pieces on Dr. Vanden Bossche. So let us breakdown the hit piece. While it acknowledges Dr. Bossche's qualification as a virologist it tries to diminish this by stating he is also a veterinary doctor. Implying his virology qualification is less important because he does not treat people. They mention that he has has only published one academic article since 1995, insinuating that this undermines his expertise. The reporter also highlights that the Journal in which the article that Dr Bossche was published has been sued by the Federal Trade Commission, thus attempting to raise doubts about Dr Bossche's integrity. Dr Bossche is not the only scientist who expresses concerns about the mRNA vaccines. Here Professor Sucharit Bhakdi explains why he is concerned. Pathogenesis is the process by which a disease or disorder develops. It can include factors which contribute not only to the onset of the disease or disorder, but also to its progression. In a recent study Yuichiro J. Suzuki1, and Sergiy G. Gychka state that there is a possibility that the "SARS-CoV-2 spike protein produced by the new COVID-19 vaccines triggers cell signaling events that promote PAH, other cardiovascular complications, and/or complications in other tissues/organs in certain individuals." There are a large number of autoantibody diseases and we know that an autoantibody is an antibody (a type of protein) produced by the immune system that is directed against one or more of the individual's own proteins. Perhaps, we should be asking if mRNA vaccines stimulate an autoantibody response in susceptible recipients. Many people will be aware of some autoantibody conditions such as psoriasis but how many are aware that type 1 diabetes falls into this category of diseases? In their paper "Manifestations of autoimmune diseases: A comprehensive review", Wen-Tao Ma, Christopher Chang, Eric Gershwin and Zhe-Xiong Lian state that autoantibodies can appear long before the onset of many autoimmune diseases. Are mRNA vaccines inadvertently priming an autoimmune response that contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions. Long Term Adverse Effects A number of vaccination programmes have been introduced in the last 100 years and some have resulted in serious or long-term adverse effects. So let us take a look at these programmes. In the early 1940s US military personnel were vaccinated against Yellow Fever. By 1942 50,000 of those vaccinated had developed symptoms of hepatitis B which was directly spread by the vaccine. In early 1976, two U.S. military recruits at Fort Dix, New Jersey, came down with flu-like illnesses.The aggressive campaign to stop the spread of swine flu saw 45 million Americans vaccinated within ten months. the vaccine was linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause muscle weakness or paralysis. The Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine, often called Hib vaccine, is a vaccine used to prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection. In 1999 the BMJ published a research paper highlighting concerns about the long-term adverse effects on children. The paper specifically raised concerns about the vaccine and increased risk of diabetes. During the Swine Flu epidemic of 2009/10 the vaccine Pandemrix was given to six million people in the UK. In 2010 there was a startling increase in narcolepsy across the UK and northern Europe. With new cases developing on a weekly basis, some doctors described it as an epidemic. Pandemrix was identified as the source of the problem in some but not all the cases of narcolepsy. Conclusion

Some may assume that this article is anti-vax, it is not. It highlights a few reasons as to why we should be cautious about mRNA vaccines. People are experiencing adverse effects and not just mild symptoms but one's resulting in the deaths of some recipients. The UK Government have released the 12th update highlighting adverse reactions to both the Pfizer and Astrazeneca vaccines that have occurred since the roll-out began on the 8th December. The report has collated data inputted up to the 14th April 2021 via the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme. At this point an estimated 11.2 million first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and 21.2 million doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine had been administered, as well as around 8.5 million second doses, mostly the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. With the rise in vaccines administered came a rise in adverse reactions with 143,034 reported adverse reactions to the Pfizer vaccine and 548,495 adverse reactions to the Oxford / Astrazeneca vaccine. For both vaccines this equates to 1 in every 166 people suffering an adverse reaction. It could be argued that these numbers are relatively low and this justifies the introduction of the vaccines. However, this rate could actually be higher as only 1 – 10% of adverse reactions are actually reported, according to the MHRA themselves. Consequently, not only do we not know the true number of adverse effects we do not yet know the long-term complications that might occur as a result of mRNA vaccines. Further References Reaction of Human Monoclonal Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Proteins With Tissue Antigens: Implications for Autoimmune Diseases. SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Elicits Cell Signaling in Human Host Cells: Implications for Possible Consequences of COVID-19 Vaccines. Platelets Can Associate With SARS-CoV-2 RNA and Are Hyperactivated in COVID-19. Pathogenic priming likely contributes to serious and critical illness and mortality in COVID-19 via autoimmunity Potential antigenic cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human tissue with a possible link to an increase in autoimmune diseases. Molecular mimicry between SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and mammalian proteomes: implications for the vaccine. Molecular Mimicry as a Mechanism of Autoimmune Disease. SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine–Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Is the Astra-Zeneca vaccine killing people? Platelets Can Associate With SARS-CoV-2 RNA and Are Hyperactivated in COVID-19