Pharmacy Phriday #4: mRNA Vaccines

<p><strong>Contributor: Rachael Duncan, PharmD</strong></p> <p><strong>Educational Pearls: </strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ED visits nationwide declined by 42% in April 2020 compared to the same time in 2019 largely due to the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. The biggest decline was seen in pediatrics less than 14, women and emerging COVID hotspots like the Northeast.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In recent weeks, this trend has reversed, showing a record-breaking number of COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. As hospitals reach capacity, critically ill COVID patients are being held in the ED until an inpatient bed becomes available. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A new mRNA vaccine has promising preliminary trial results to help end the COVID-19 pandemic. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While traditional vaccines contain purified proteins or weakened viruses, the mRNA vaccine is genetic material that is coded within the human body to make the viral protein. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The mRNA vaccine codes for the critical fragment of the viral protein without causing disease and leads to the production of powerful antibodies. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Although synthetic mRNA is genetic material, it cannot be passed on to further generations. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">mRNA vaccines are much faster to develop and could potentially provide a more efficient process for developing future vaccines</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cold temperatures are currently needed to maintain the stability of the mRNA which has posed a challenge to the viability of the vaccines. However, developments are underway to overcome this hurdle.</span></li> </ul> <p> </p>