Science
Was this the first mRNA vaccine developed?
Yes
What companies partnered to develop the first Covid 19 vaccine?
Pfizer and BioNtech
How many doses did you initially need to take of the vaccine?
2 doses
What global organization coordinated efforts for fair vaccine access?
WHO
What are the three main types of RNA vaccines being studied?
mRNA, self-amplifying RNA [saRNA], and circular RNA [circRNA]
What type of vaccine was developed by BioNTech and Moderna?
mRNA
What politician was offering funding to companies with the condition that they would be involved (Based on the video)?
Donald Trump
About how long did it take to develop the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine?
Less than a year
Who were among the first groups to receive COVID-19 vaccines?
Healthcare workers and elderly people
What is one advantage of circular RNA vaccines compared to linear mRNA?
More stable and longer-lasting protein production
What type of molecule are mRNA vaccines teaching our cells to make?
Viral proteins / specifically the spike protein
About how effective were the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in large clinical trials?
95% effective
What organelle in our cells reads the mRNA to make viral proteins?
The ribosomes
How did nurses and doctors react when Margaret Keenan got her shot?
They were happy and applauded
How can RNA vaccines be updated if a virus mutates?
By changing the RNA sequence
What type of immune cells “remember” the spike protein for future protection?
T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes
What organization approved the vaccine?
FDA
What problem does cold storage solve for mRNA vaccines?
Prevents the mRNA from breaking down
Why was it harder for low-income countries to roll out mRNA vaccines?
Required ultra-cold storage and expensive logistics
Why are RNA vaccines faster to design than older vaccines?
They only need the virus’s genetic code, not to grow the virus
What enzyme naturally performs A→I RNA editing?
ADAR
Why did Pfizer reject the funding offered by Trump?
They wanted to be 100% responsible and wanted to advance as fast as possible without having to wait for approval. They also did not want the vaccine to become a political move.
Where was the first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine outside a trial?
United Kingdom
Why did some people hesitate to take the vaccine despite availability?
Misinformation / fear / distrust in new technology
What challenge must be solved before RNA vaccines and therapies can reach everyone worldwide?
Delivery, stability, and fair global access/manufacturing