mRNA isn’t the same as DNA, and it cannot combine with our DNA to change our genetic code. It is also relatively fragile, and will only hang around inside a cell for about 72 hours, before being degraded.
mRNA vaccines are based on the same ancient premise going on in our cells now and since the dawn of RNA: -- delivering mRNA into our cells, which they will use to manufacture a viral protein.
For instance, when we are infected with a virus - including relatively harmless viruses like those that cause the common cold - these invaders inject their genetic material into our cells, resulting in pieces of mRNA encoding viral proteins for the common cold being sent to our protein-making machinery.
The mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 work the same way as the common cold virus.
The mRNA Covid 19 vaccines provide instructions for making the same viral Covid-19 protein --- the coronavirus ‘spike’ protein used by the virus to gain entry to our cells.
Studies indicated that it was highly immunogenic, meaning if our immune cells encounter this protein, they will mount a strong response --- which should protect recipients against future COVID-19 disease. Once our cells have manufactured the viral protein, it is displayed on their surfaces where passing immune cells can spot it and respond.
Once inside the cell, the mRNA comes into contact with protein making-machinery located in the jelly-like cytoplasm filling the cell. It does not enter the nucleus, which is where our chromosomes (DNA) are stored.
https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/will-mrna-vaccine-alter-my-dna
My reaction to my 1st Moderna shot (COVID-19 vaccine) was minimal. Slightly sore upper arm / shoulder. A bit of fatigue the next day. One oddity: The slight soreness felt as if it moved deeper - as if deeper than my actual shoulder joint, about 24 hours in. Then the 2nd day it moved back out to the muscles over my shoulder joint. By the 3rd day it was gone. My 2nd shot is scheduled a week from now.
My wife’s 1st shot resulted in minor arm soreness only. Her 2nd shot wiped her out the day after with fatigue, but, she was ok after that for several days until...
A week later she developed a body rash over her entire body. It scared the heck out of her, but went away overnight. I thought maybe she’d coincidentally developed a food allergy - likely fish or shellfish, which she eats a lot of. HOWEVER, I’ve now heard though a friend and through a relative of two people who developed shingles-like symptoms a week to 10 days after their 2nd vaccine shot, one Pfizer, the other Moderna. These symptoms lasted two-three weeks, evidently. I do not know if those were full-body rashes (shingles usually is not, but episodes of shingles typically are a few weeks long, or longer.) My wife’s Dr. (actually the head nurse @ the office) has not heard of such “delayed” rash or shingles-like reactions, but, again from friends and relatives, at least a few are saying this is a possible reaction. I wonder, though, about confusion with lesser injection site reactions that occur more quickly.
I’m not seeing anything online about these delayed by a week or more full body rashes, OR, shingles-like reactions. Has anyone else?