The Claim:
In a recent video, the self-described “inventor of mRNA vaccines” claims that COVID vaccines are experimental gene therapy and that they “provide no benefits and only risk for the young and healthy.
The Facts:
While the doctor in the video has claimed he is the inventor of mRNA vaccines, he is not.
While COVID is less likely to be serious for those who are younger, becoming infected is not risk-free. Fortunately, studies have shown that vaccines do mitigate some of that risk, for example, by lowering the risk of hospitalization due to omicron in children ages 5-11 by two-thirds.
The vaccines are not gene therapy. mRNA is delivered to the cell but does not cross the nuclear membrane where a cell keeps its DNA. Therefore, mRNA cannot alter this DNA. As to the claim that they are experimental, these vaccines are fully authorized by the FDA.
Disclaimer: Science is always evolving and our understanding of these topics may have evolved too since this was originally posted. Be sure to check out our most recent posts and browse the latest Just the Facts Topics for the latest.
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