mRNA-Based Vaccine for COVID-19: They Are New but Not Unknown!

mRNA vaccines take advantage of the mechanism that our cells use to produce proteins. Our cells produce proteins based on the knowledge contained in our DNA; each gene encodes a unique protein. The genetic information is essential, but cells cannot use it until mRNA molecules convert it into instructions for producing specific proteins. mRNA vaccinations provide ready-to-use mRNA instructions for constructing a specific protein. BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) both are newly approved mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines that have shown excellent protection and efficacy. In total, there are five more mRNA-based vaccine candidates for COVID-19 under different phases of clinical development. This review is specifically focused on mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 covering its development, mechanism, and clinical aspects.

Automated summary

mRNA vaccines harness the cells' protein production mechanism by providing mRNA instructions for constructing specific proteins. BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) are newly approved mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines that have demonstrated high protection and efficacy. There are currently five more mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine candidates in various stages of clinical development.