mRNA vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use genetic material that is chemically synthesized in a laboratory to teach our immune system how to fight off future infections with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.There are two different types of whole virus vaccines: live attenuated and inactivated.Live attenuated vaccines use a weakened form of a pathogen.
These elicit strong immune responses but are not suitable for people with a weakened immune system.In an inactivated vaccine, the pathogen is killed or modified in such a way that it is unable to replicate.
It cannot cause disease and is, therefore, suitable for those with a compromised immune system. The inactivation step usually involves heat, radiation, or chemicals to destroy the pathogen’s.