MRNA vaccines

Definition

mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. mRNA vaccines instead teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies.

Related terms

Immune System: The body's defense against infectious organisms and other invaders through a series of steps called the immune response.

Antibodies: Proteins produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances such as bacteria or viruses; they help neutralize these threats.

Vaccine Efficacy: The percentage reduction in disease incidence in a vaccinated group compared to an unvaccinated group under optimal conditions.