Vaccines may be revamped to avoid blood clots, German scientists claim | COVID-19 | Coronavirus
Summary
TLDRA study from German scientists may have discovered why some people experienced rare blood clots after receiving AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines use adenoviruses, which can enter the cell's nucleus, leading to the spike protein fragmenting and causing blood clots in rare cases. Scientists propose a simple fix: modifying the adenovirus to prevent the spike protein from breaking apart. Johnson & Johnson is already investigating this. Although the findings are not yet peer-reviewed, the vaccines are still recommended, as their benefits outweigh the risks.
Takeaways
- π©Έ Reports of blood clots among people who received the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines almost derailed the vaccination drive.
- π Many countries stopped using these vaccines, and some still donβt use them.
- π¬ Experts recommended the vaccines, despite not fully understanding the cause of the blood clots.
- 𧬠German scientists have found a potential cause for these clots and may have a solution.
- π¦ The vaccines in question are adenovirus-based, which are typically harmless and commonly used for colds.
- π Adenoviruses are used to deliver the genetic message to cells to create spike proteins from the virus, triggering an immune response.
- β οΈ The problem arises when adenoviruses enter the cellβs nucleus, causing the spike protein to break up, which may lead to blood clots.
- π» This issue doesnβt occur with mRNA vaccines, as they deliver the vector to cellular fluid, not the nucleus.
- π The proposed solution is to modify the genetic message to prevent the spike protein from splitting apart.
- π Although the theory sounds promising, it still requires peer review before conclusions can be fully drawn.
Q & A
What was the main concern about the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines?
-The main concern was the occurrence of blood clots among people who received these adenovirus-based vaccines.
Why did some countries stop using AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines?
-Many countries paused the use of these vaccines due to concerns about rare but serious blood clotting events, and some have still not resumed their use.
What technology do AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines use?
-Both vaccines use adenoviruses, which are modified to disable their ability to cause illness while still being able to enter human cells to deliver a message for the immune system.
What makes adenoviruses useful in these vaccines?
-Adenoviruses can carry genetic information into cells without causing disease, making them an ideal vector for delivering the genetic code to produce spike proteins that stimulate an immune response.
How do adenovirus-based vaccines cause blood clots, according to the study?
-The study suggests that the adenoviruses in these vaccines enter the cell's nucleus, where the spike protein breaks up. Some of these broken parts might lead to blood clots in rare cases.
How do mRNA vaccines differ from adenovirus-based vaccines in terms of blood clot risk?
-mRNA vaccines deliver the vector to the cellular fluid, not the nucleus, reducing the risk of the spike protein breaking up and causing blood clots.
What potential solution did German scientists propose to prevent blood clots in adenovirus-based vaccines?
-The scientists suggest altering the genetic message inside the adenovirus envelope to prevent the spike protein from splitting apart, which could reduce the risk of blood clots.
How has Johnson & Johnson responded to the findings of the German scientists?
-Johnson & Johnson has expressed support for continued research and analysis of the rare blood clot events and is working with global health authorities to address the issue.
What is the current stance of health authorities like the WHO and the European Medicines Agency on these vaccines?
-Both the WHO and the European Medicines Agency continue to back the use of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, despite the concerns about blood clots.
What should people keep in mind about these vaccines while awaiting further studies?
-While the study is not yet peer-reviewed, the vaccines are still considered effective and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks posed by the blood clots, which are rare.
Outlines
π©Έ Concerns Over Blood Clots and Vaccines
Reports of blood clots among people who received the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines almost derailed global vaccination efforts. Many countries halted the use of these vaccines, though experts continued to recommend them without fully understanding the cause of the clots. In Germany, scientists now believe they have identified the reason and may have a solution.
π Investigating Vaccine-Related Blood Clots
A group of German scientists have been studying the blood clots and suggest they may have found the answer. While there is a lot of medical jargon involved, they explain that these clots are linked to adenovirus-based vaccines, such as AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, which use modified adenoviruses to deliver instructions to cells.
π¦ How Adenovirus-Based Vaccines Work
Adenoviruses are normally harmless, causing minor illnesses like colds. Scientists modify these viruses to disable their ability to cause illness while retaining their ability to enter cells, making them useful for delivering vaccine information. In the case of these vaccines, they teach cells to produce the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus, prompting the immune system to respond.
𧬠Problem with Adenoviruses Entering Cell Nuclei
The issue arises when adenoviruses enter the nucleus of the cell, which controls the cell's functions. In some cases, the spike proteins produced by the vaccine can break apart within the nucleus, leading to fragments that may cause blood clots. This complication has not been observed with mRNA vaccines, as they do not enter the cell's nucleus.
π Potential Solution for Blood Clot Risk
The German scientists propose a simple solution: modify the genetic instructions in the adenovirus to prevent the spike protein from breaking apart. Johnson & Johnson has already reached out to the researchers and is reviewing the findings as they continue to collaborate with global health authorities to investigate this rare side effect.
π Global Impact of Blood Clot Fears
Fear of blood clots has significantly disrupted vaccination efforts, especially in Europe. The UK has reported 309 cases of clots out of 33 million vaccinations, while the EU reported 142 cases out of 16 million. Though health agencies such as the WHO and European Medicine Agency still back the vaccines, some countries, including Denmark, Austria, and Norway, have stopped using AstraZeneca.
π¬ Ongoing Studies and Vaccine Efficacy
While this new study from Germany is promising, it is one of many theories, and conclusions cannot be drawn until it undergoes peer review. However, the vaccines remain effective, and experts continue to emphasize that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks. The vaccines are still a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Blood clots
π‘Adenovirus-based vaccines
π‘Spike protein
π‘Nucleus
π‘mRNA vaccines
π‘Peer review
π‘Ammunition for anti-vaxxers
π‘Statistical event
π‘Denmark, Austria, and Norway
π‘European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Highlights
Reports of blood clots associated with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines nearly derailed the vaccination drive.
Many countries stopped using AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines; some still don't use them.
Experts continued recommending these vaccines despite uncertainty about the cause of the blood clots.
A group of German scientists may have discovered the cause of the blood clots and proposed a solution.
Adenovirus-based vaccines like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson were linked to these clotting events.
Adenoviruses, typically harmless viruses, are used as vectors to deliver genetic information to cells in these vaccines.
The problem with these vaccines: adenoviruses were entering the cell's nucleus, where they aren't supposed to go.
Once inside the nucleus, the spike protein breaks apart, and fragments can cause blood clots in rare cases.
mRNA vaccines, like Pfizer and Moderna, don't have this issue because their vectors don't enter the cell's nucleus.
The proposed solution is to modify the genetic message in the adenovirus to prevent the spike protein from breaking apart.
Johnson & Johnson has reached out to the scientists and is supporting continued research on this rare clotting event.
The clotting issue has caused vaccine hesitancy, especially in Europe, despite the low number of cases.
Denmark, Austria, and Norway have stopped using AstraZeneca's vaccine due to the clotting concerns.
The theory from German scientists is still under peer review, so no conclusions can be definitively drawn yet.
Despite the clotting risks, the vaccines are still considered effective, and their benefits outweigh the risks.
Transcripts
reports of blood clots among people who
got the astrozenic and johnson and
johnson vaccine nearly derailed the
vaccination drive
many countries stopped using these two
vaccines some of them still don't but
experts kept recommending these jabs
even though they had no idea what was
causing these blood clots in germany now
a group of scientists say
they may have cracked the code and turns
out they even have a solution for it
here's a report it's the side effect
that almost
killed a vaccine a condition that became
ammunition for anti-vaxxers
the blood clot is it really a side
effect
a statistical event or just mass
hysteria
a group of german scientists may have
the answer
there's a lot of medical jargon here so
try to keep
up the clot risks were linked to two
vaccines astrazeneca
and johnson and johnson both of them
are adenovirus-based vaccines here's a
quick
explainer adenoviruses are the harmless
kind
like the ones that give you a cold or a
fever
nothing life-threatening scientists can
actually hack these adenoviruses
disable their ability to cause illness
and retain their capacity
to enter cells this makes them the
perfect vector
think of adenoviruses as an envelope
inside this envelope is a message
it teaches our cells how to grow the
spike proteins of the wuhan virus
not the virus itself just the spike
proteins
once our body sees this foreign object
it gets to work
it's pretty impressive technology but
the current lot of vaccines have one
problem
the adenoviruses are entering the cell's
nucleus
think of it as the heart and brain of
your cells
weak or not the viruses entering the
cell's nucleus
is bad news once this happens the spike
protein
breaks up and part of it float around in
your body
in some rare cases these broken parts
can lead to blood clots
what about mrna vaccines they deliver
the vector to the cellular fluid
so the question of entering the nucleus
doesn't arise
this study is yet to be peer-reviewed
but if this is indeed causing the blood
clots
what is the solution scientists in
germany make it sound
ridiculously easy just tell the spike
protein
not to split apart how by changing the
genetic message
inside the adenovirus envelope
johnson johnson has already reached out
to the scientists
the company said we are supporting
continued research and analysis of this
rare event
as we work with medical experts and
global health authorities
we look forward to reviewing and sharing
data as it becomes available
blood clot fears have disrupted
vaccination especially in europe
the uk has reported 309 cases
in 33 million people the european union
has reported 142 cases
in 16 million recipients
both the who and the european medicine
agency
back the vaccines but hesitancy remains
denmark austria and norway have stopped
using astrazeneca's jabs
this theory from germany is one among
dozens like every scientific study this
one too sounds solid but
until the peer review is complete we
can't draw
conclusions except maybe this one the
vaccines
still work the cure is better than the
disease
bureau report we own world this one
beyond is now available in your country
download the app now get
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