Valneva vaccine?

[Internshipquestion]

Do you think we will be able to choose which vaccine we get? I understand that the valneva one is in early stages, but I feel much more comfortable having one based on a whole inactivated virus than mRNA etc.

For example, some flu/polio/rabies/her A vaccines are based on this method. Also I am 23 with no health issues so will be waiting a long time anyway.

I would pay for it if needed and I will wait to travel.

*Hep A

No, I don't think you will be able to choose, or at least not this year and I don't know what they will do about younger people wanting to travel as they aren't currently planning to vaccinate young people.
I wouldnt worry which one you get, they will all be tested to the same extent. Just be grateful there will be a vaccine available!

why would you feel safer having a whole virus put in you rather than just the code to tell your own body to make antibodies without being exposed to anything?

Yes, I think if possible I would like to be able to choose.

I understand the Valneva vaccine candidate has a proprietary adjuvant (CpG 1018, Dynavax’s) which I would like to research further to see if it may be problematic for people for instance with autoimmune disease

Adjuvants are used in some vaccines to make the immune response stronger (to allow for instance to use a lower amount of virus and reduce vaccine cost)

Ideally I would like a whole inactivated virus non adjuvated vaccine (though currently there's no front runner in this category for the UK)

It may be developed later on

@gillianan

I think you are oversimplifying if you are referring to mRNA vaccines.

This was explained well by a poster on another thread:

^RNA (ribonucleic acid) makes up the genome of the COV-SARS-2 virus. mRNA isn't the same thing in terms of its role - it's messenger RNA, it's not 'part of the virus'. However mRNA is transcribed from the virus's RNA, in the case of this vaccine, the segment of RNA that has been transcribed into mRNA codes for the spike protein. It is this mRNA that is used in the vaccine, the virus's genomic RNA is not there at all.

When the vaccine is injected, the virus mRNA for the spike protein is then translated by our body's protein-assembling mechanisms (using tRNA (transferRNA and rRNA (ribosomalRNA) to collect and join up the required amino acids to make the spike protein). At that point our body says, 'What is this? This spike protein is an invader, it shouldn't be here, quick, get the immune system!' and that triggers the generation of antibodies.^

I feel much more comfortable having one based on a whole inactivated virus than mRNA etc

Why? The efficacy of the mRNA ones seems higher so far.

@PurpleDaisies

Probably because this technique is new and the vaccines she's referring to have been in use for many years

Thank you @trulydelicious but I was interested in the op’s view. I’m not sure why you’ve answered.

@trulydelicious I'm a medical advisor for vaccines I know how they work thanks, which is why mRNA is preferable to me than a whole virus

@gillianan

I did not mean to offend you. I just thought the post was a bit succinct and cryptic and more detailed information would be beneficial, that's all

I read that we wouldn’t be able to choose. You’ll get what’s available in any given area.

They’re also saying it won’t be available to buy privately, as wealth shouldn’t put you ahead of the vulnerable.

This will be the situation, at least for the first few years until vaccines become more readily available.

Its for the reason that @trulydelicious said, that mRNA hasn't been used in humans widely before but I have had many whole virus vaccines before, and it is possible for errors to occur during transcription.

And although I did a biology degree, I am not fully sure if this could have repercussions elsewhere in the body/genome, such as for protein synthesis etc, that may not be evident straight away.

But again, I am not sure, just hypothesising. I am not a geneticist.

Also, I personally am not bothered about getting a vaccien. But if I want to travel, then I want to choose the one I have. And I dont want an mRNA one. But if it isn't required to travel then I probs won't get it l.

Sorry for my spelling mistakes🤦🏻‍♀️

@Internshipquestion

Some countries are requiring PCR tests for entry (new ones appear to be added every day - I learnt about a specific one yesterday for instance)

Let's hope this is the only requirement until more information is known regarding these new vaccines or better (in my view this equals more traditional) vaccines become available

I hope no problem having a test and I fully agree with you, that it should be kept an option instead of vaccination.
@trulydelicious

Have no problem *

Personally, and this is from reading around today re the adjuvant added to the Valneva vaccine, I think twice about having it if you have an autoimmune disease. The adjuvant is Dynavax CpG 1018, I had a look around for any further info. It appears it's been developed to replace aluminium salts and is used in a Hep B vaccine. It acts to stimulate the body's toll like receptor 9 (TLR9):

www.dynavax.com/science/cpg-1018/

Thing is, TLR9 is also involved in the autoimmune response. There's active research into synthetic TLR9 agonists and antagonists that help regulate autoimmune inflammation. This study shows that levels of TLR9 (along with some other TLRs) is raised in thyroid autoimmune patients.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5145898/

I'm not sure I'd want to add more of it into my body.

Thats very interesting, thank you @CrunchyCarrot . I know that sinopharms vaccine is also a whole virus, but they don't have a deal with the UK.

I have thyroid issues in my family, so maybe I should be careful with the Valneva one.

Lots of our common and effective vaccines aren’t whole virus. Whooping cough, meningitis, hep B to name a few.

@PurpleDaisies

Most are though

@Internshipquestion

I know that sinopharms vaccine is also a whole virus, but they don't have a deal with the UK.

Yes, the issue with the Chinese and Russian vaccines (and probably others) may be transparency at this point

@PurpleDaisies I know this. But none are mRNA.