Elizabeth Flatley
The Moderna vaccine for COVID-19, also known as mRNA-1273, serves the purpose to to help stop the spread of the virus. The vaccine was proven to be safe for people of ages 18 and up. For people under the age of 18, Moderna has not yet been approved for safety and effectiveness.
With mRNA-1273 our cells teach each other how to make a protein that will provoke a response from your immune system without using the live COVID-19 virus. Once set off, our bodies then make antibodies to help combat the virus if infected. The RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, a molecule that provides our bodies with information and instructions concerning how to fight off this infectious disease. Messenger RNA vaccines, mRNA vaccines, hold genetic instructions regarding SARS-CoV-2 spike protein of which has been found or traced on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. Your cells will read the instructions when given this vaccine, and produce that spike protein in order to resist the virus in the future. After this protein is made, your cells will begin to break down and get rid of the instructions. The cells will then take this and display the protein piece on its surface. When our system acknowledges that this protein does not belong in our bodies, it will begin to create antibodies and the immune system will fight it off as a defensive response. The vaccine is given by a 0.5 mL injection into your deltoid or your upper arm muscles. For the vaccine to do its best, you will need to get two doses and your immunity will begin to get stronger over time. It will begin to take place in your body and adjust to you after around two weeks, and a second dose will guarantee a better response to the infectious virus.
Canada has been approved to receive around 4.5 million doses of an infusion of COVID-19 vaccines. Justin Trudeau assures his citizens that millions of Moderna will be available by the middle of May. To this date, Moderna and other doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been issued to around 16.8 million people throughout Canada’s provinces and territories. As Canada begins to start up their vaccination campaign, the country expects to acquire around or up to 36 million doses of the mRNA vaccines within the next few months.