Can COVID-19 Vaccines Alter Your DNA? The Vaccine Mom Explains.
Mar 22, 2021

In this video for the Shot of Prevention blog, Taryn (AKA “The Vaccine Mom”) — a molecular biologist and mom of two — discusses how mRNA vaccines work to protect you from getting seriously sick with COVID-19, and why they can’t alter your DNA. Read below for the full transcript. 

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Taryn:

Hi. I’m Taryn, and I’m the Vaccine Mom. So some of the current COVID-19 vaccines that we have right now are mRNA vaccines.

There’s been a lot of rumors floating around that mRNA vaccines can cause mutations or alter your DNA, and I want to assure you right now that that is not true.

mRNA is messenger RNA. This molecule is found in all of our cells and each mRNA carries the instructions for making specific proteins. When a protein needs to be made, the messenger RNA moves from the nucleus of the cell into the cellular fluid. The fluid contains organelles called ribosomes that then read the mRNA code and create the protein.

The mRNA in the vaccine also codes for a protein. It codes for a spike protein that’s on the outside of the coronavirus.

The mRNA in the vaccine enters the fluid of the cell to work with the ribosomes and make the coronavirus spike protein, just as our mRNA does. But it’s different in that it never crosses into the nucleus, and therefore cannot get near your DNA to alter it or cause mutations of any kind.

Once the protein is made, your immune system will recognize that this protein is different from the other proteins in the body and will respond by attacking it and eventually forming antibodies to it. Just as it would if you were infected with the coronavirus naturally.

The mRNA quickly degrades inside your body and doesn’t stick around. You don’t need to be worried about any extra mRNA floating around in your cells.

One of the great things about this vaccine is that there’s no infectious agent. So there’s no way you’re going to get sick with the coronavirus from an mRNA vaccine. 

One shot doesn’t offer full protection. So if you are getting the mRNA vaccine, you need to make sure you go back for that second dose. That’s the best way that you can get the most protection to keep your family, yourself and your community protected from coronavirus.

Like this video from The Vaccine Mom? Watch more of Taryn’s videos on Shot of Prevention or on Vaccinate Your Family’s YouTube channel, such as her videos on aluminum in vaccines and whether natural immunity is really better than vaccination. 

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Do you have questions about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 vaccine side effects? That’s OK! Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) has answers:

• Questions and Answers About COVID-19 Vaccines — Read what medical experts say about common questions and concerns, including: Will the vaccines lead to infertility? Can mRNA vaccines alter your DNA? And should those who are pregnant or breastfeeding get the vaccine?
• Information and Resources on COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccines — Get information on COVID-19 symptoms, find out where to get COVID vaccines in your state, up-to-date information for healthcare providers and more on VYF’s COVID-19 Resource page.
• COVID-19 Vaccines: Find Your Health Department  — Trying to figure out when and where you will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine? While the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC provide COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and guidance, your local, state or territorial health department is making the decision on how the COVID vaccines are distributed. Visit this page on VYF’s website to find COVID information on your health department’s website.

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