Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The coronavirus vaccination has been carried out in China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and Canada since the beginning of December. To date, more than a million people have been vaccinated, and this process is still ongoing. Currently, a product of the Pfizer concern and their German partner - BioNTech is used. The exception is Russia and China, which use their own vaccines. What is the composition of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine and is it safe?

Composition of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against COVID-19

One of the most common questions is the possible side effects that may occur after the vaccine is administered. The composition also has an obvious and close connection with this. Moreover, it is not recommended to take it if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

What's in the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine? It is worth clarifying at the outset that this vaccine is not standardized and is state of the art. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it contains only a fragment of the RNA of the virus, and not the entire element. Thus, there is no risk of getting sick after vaccination.

This small messenger RNA contains information about the specific protein responsible for the multiplication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Thus, the immune system of the vaccinated person receives accurate information about what exactly it needs to neutralize and what antibodies need to be produced. As a result, the immune system remembers the messages it receives and activates defensive responses when necessary to counter the threat.

The composition of the coronavirus vaccine is also described as follows: "The vaccine against COVID-19 BNT162b2 is a highly purified single-stranded messenger RNA obtained by in vitro extracellular transcription from appropriate DNA matrices encoding the SARS-CoV-2 viral protein."

In addition to the coronavirus mRNA, the vaccine also includes:

• ALC-0315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl) azandiyl) bis (hexane-6, 1-diyl) bis (2-hexyl decanoate);
• ALC-0159 = 2 [(polyethylene glycol) -2000] -N, N-ditetradetsilatsetamid;
• polyethylene glycol / macrogol;
• 1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and cholesterol;
• potassium chloride;
• potassium dihydrogen phosphate;
• sodium chloride;
• sodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate;
• sucrose;
• water for injections.

Package

These ingredients are surrounded by a microscopic capsule made using lipid nanoparticles. It performs both protective and transport functions in relation to the drugs inside, as it supports their penetration through the cell membrane.

Is the Pfizer vaccine effective?

The management of BioNTech, whose vaccine was developed in collaboration with Pfizer, has no doubts that the drug will be beneficial. It assures that the vaccine will be effective against both old and new strains of coronavirus that have emerged in the UK. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission have approved the use of vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech in the countries of the European Union. They confirmed that the drug showed 95% efficacy in clinical trials.

The Pfizer vaccine requires 2 doses every 3 weeks. In November, Pfizer said the first results from a Phase 3 clinical trial showed 2 doses were 95% effective in preventing Covid-19.

The overall effectiveness of the vaccine, according to the researchers, is the same for all age groups, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Side effects of the vaccine

Is the vaccine in question dangerous? When the vaccine is injected into the body, the immune system immediately reacts to it - antibodies and immune cells are produced. In some cases, the reaction of the immune system can be associated with so-called side effects. The same may be the case for the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer.

According to the manufacturer, most of the side effects are mild or moderate and disappear within a few days from the moment they appear. If side effects such as pain or fever bother the person, paracetamol-based pain relievers or antipyretics can be taken.

The most common side effects, which can affect more than 1 in 10 people, are:

• pain at the injection site;
• fatigue;
• headache;
• muscle pain;
• arthralgia;
• chills;
• temperature.

Often (in less than 1 in 10 people), these side effects can also occur:

• swelling and redness at the injection site;
• other allergic reactions.

Less commonly (less than 1 in 100 people), you may experience swollen lymph nodes or feel unwell.

The manufacturer's recommendation states that you can report any side effects to your doctor or nurse. This also applies to any undesirable effects not listed as possible.

The occurrence of post-vaccination reactions is an individual matter. Some symptoms may or may not appear in any way.

Adverse post-vaccination reactions

A vaccine response is an expected response from the body related to the immune system and antibody production. The occurrence of post-vaccination reactions depends on the type of vaccination, its composition and the individual characteristics of the person to whom it was administered. In general, the principle of vaccination is such that side effects are limited to minor reactions, such as redness or pain at the injection site.

The most typical post-vaccination reaction is a reaction to a tuberculosis vaccination - after a few weeks, infiltration and erythema appear at the injection site. In 95 percent of those vaccinated, the scar remains after healing.

On the other hand, adverse reactions can be accompanied by severe reactions to vaccination lasting more than a few days, but not life-threatening and not leading to irreversible damage to health.

According to the WHO, serious post-vaccination reactions are vaccine-related side effects that require hospitalization or an increase in current hospital stay. They lead to an irreversible decrease in physical, mental performance or pose a threat to life.

Outcomes

1. An analysis of the data from the Pfizer vaccine trial shows that the vaccine is 95% effective.
2. The UK became the first country to approve a Pfizer vaccine. Russia and China use so far developed independently inoculating materials.
3. As with any vaccine, the vaccine is reported to have the potential to cause side effects. True, scientists point out that in most cases they are light and do not affect the health of the vaccinated.