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When the mRNA enters the body’s lymph nodes, it instructs
their use will likely be much more prominent in the near future.
immune cells to produce the spike proteins on their outer cell
There are concerns that vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2
membranes, as if they had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 [9]
might not actually provide long term immunity [11]. Scientists
[10]. This enables B lymphocytes to produce complimentary
are unsure how the combination of antibodies, cells, and other
antibodies to the antigens on the spike proteins. Very similar
markers in a person’s blood will dictate their level of immunity. It
to the process mentioned previously, memory T and B cells
is known that some level of immunity is provided for an unknown
are then able to ‘remember’ how to produce these antibodies
length of time, but other factors such as viral mutations may
to fight against future infection from the virus. Moderna have
affect this drastically. There is also some debate concerning the
already begun production of this vaccine (subsidised by the US
danger that these vaccines have to the body, especially the mRNA
Government) despite the fact it has not been cleared for general
vaccines due to their novelty. Vaccine development for SARS-
use, which is a significant risk but means that if the vaccine is
CoV-2 has been the fastest ever, and this is a testament to the
successful, the infrastructure is already in place to mass-produce
significant advances in scientific research over the past decades.
the vaccine [12]. No mRNA vaccine has been approved before
The only chance that the world has in returning to some sense of
for an infectious disease as it is such a novel approach, however
normality is the widespread distribution of an effective vaccine.
The development of vaccines in the fight against SARS-CoV-2