Two new vaccines on the way – with more to follow this year

Half of UK adults have had a first jab, and future supplies of millions of doses look assuredCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageTwo very different jabs have been responsible for inoculating Britain ’s strikingly high number ofvaccine recipients– with more than half of the country’s adult population having now received a first dose and several million people having received second doses. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine uses pieces of the Covid virus’s genetic code which, after injection, enter cells and instructs them to start making pie ces of virus protein, which stimulate a person’s immune system. The Oxford/AstraZenecavaccine uses a chimp cold virus (genetically engineered so it cannot trigger infection in people) which has been re-modified to carry viral genes into cells so they make pieces of Covid-19 viruses – and stimulate immune systems.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Coronavirus Vaccines and immunisation AstraZeneca Pfizer Health Infectious diseases Medical research Microbiology Business Science Society Pharmaceuticals industry Source Type: news