this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023
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[–] be_excellent_to_each_other@kbin.social 24 points 2 years ago (6 children)

If we assume for a moment that it works as advertised - what is it that makes this a vaccine? To me it sounds like a cure or treatment.

[–] NMBA@mstdn.ca 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

@be_excellent_to_each_other @m3t00
Vaccines have evolved from prevention/mitigation to now include treatment, and ideally cures.

https://www.pennmedicine.org/mrna

[–] be_excellent_to_each_other@kbin.social 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

So skimming through the link, it's a vaccine because it's still triggering a specific body response to fight the illness as opposed to directly attacking the illness itself? Is that a reasonable layman's summary of why it's called a vaccine?

(Old x'er here, Vaccines have been preventative for as long as I've ever known, that's the reason for the question.)

[–] NMBA@mstdn.ca 0 points 2 years ago

@be_excellent_to_each_other @m3t00
I an X that had the exact same thoughts lol. I’m no expert, but old vaccines often contained some of the virus live or deactivated, whereas mRNA are created and not of biological origin. So more about the front end than the back end.

[–] whoisearth@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 years ago

The amount of science research funded over COVID that allowed for the rapid development and testing of mRNA technology has created a boon for centuries to come. COVID may well be responsible for the death of autoimmune diseases.

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