What Happened in the Animal Trials for mRNA vaccines?
Animal studies related to mRNA vaccines were definitely difficult to read and analyze. My intent today is to begin to comprehensively present salient features of these studies one at a time addressing concerns of the vaccine being brought up on the internet.
An interesting fact to note is no animal study went beyond 56 days presumably because the immediate goal was to prove mRNA vaccines could mount a good immune response with little acute adverse effects. Hence, we have no data even in animal studies as to long term adverse effects of mRNA vaccines. mRNA vaccines are still considered experimental and people receiving these vaccines are part of the experiment. Long term data is currently being collected until 2022. Bottom line is we don’t know the long term adverse effects. What can we learn from the animal studies?
The first study I reviewed entitled, Immunization with SARS coronavirus vaccines leads to pulmonary immunopathology on challenge with the SARS Virus, published in 2012, began by stating, “The research for vaccine development of coronavirus was initiated in 2002 in response to the 2002 spread of SARS which emerged in China and the “concern for reemergence of a deliberate release of the SARS coronavirus”. *
This study is sited by some researchers who imply, ‘All animals died from autoimmune lung disease after receiving the vaccine upon being challenged with the virus’ Is this true?
The paper states,” evaluations of an inactivated whole virus vaccine (similar to customary vaccines) in ferrets, nonhuman primates; and a virus-like-particle in mice induced protection against infection but challenged animals (those administered vaccines) exhibited an immunopathologic-type lung disease.”*
“The virus-like-particle was an rDNA produced S protein injected in mice on day 0 and 28, some were sacrificed for serum antibody measurements and the rest challenged with the virus on day 56. On day 56 those mice were sacrificed and lungs obtained for virus and pathology”*
The papers’ conclusion was “These SARS-CoV vaccines all induced antibody and protection against infection with SARS-CoV. However, challenge of mice given any of the vaccines led to occurrence of Th2-type immunopathology suggesting hypersensitivity to SARS-CoV components was induced. Caution in proceeding to application of a SARS-CoV vaccine in humans is indicated.”*
All the vaccines used in this research experiment in 2012 triggered hypersensitivity of Th2 immunity. Th2 cells are a subset of CD4+ T helper cells hence the name Th2. The results from this study showed as Th2 immunity triggered by the vaccines increased, the body’s defense system was pushed out of balance and this reaction started to cause tissue breakdown in the lung. This, of course, is concerning.
However, the vaccines given in this paper were not the same as the current mRNA vaccines. The challenging virus was, of course, not SARS-CoV-2. The animals did not die of the disease, they were sacrificed. All other statements concerning this paper are opinions. Does this paper have anything to do with the current vaccines?
Next week we will look at Pfizer and Moderna animal studies. What response do these vaccines mount? Are they dangerous? Is the immunity induced by these vaccines effective?
Have an awesome day! Dr. D