‘There is no vaccine microchip and it will not track people or alter their DNA’

As government prepares to roll out Covid-19 vaccines, South Africans have, in recent weeks, expressed reluctance and concerns about being immunised.

Some mistrust vaccines and their efficacy in fighting the deadly virus.

Enter Dr Nokukhanya Msomi, head of virology in the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). 

Msomi, chief guest at a public webinar on Wednesday, explained that vaccines have always been a cornerstone of controlling viral infections as they are difficult to treat.

Vaccines work by training the body to recognise and respond to proteins produced by disease-causing organisms such as Covid-19.

Last week, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced that SA is preparing to roll out Covid-19 vaccines in three phases that are expected to be completed in 12 months.

Msomi said advanced technology over the years has made the fast production of vaccines possible.

“A small segment of the gene is isolated and you can create only that part of the virus that the immune system recognises. You use that as a vaccine. We have already accumulated enough evidence that these genetically modified types of vaccines that people are worried about are safe,” she said.

“Actions taken to ensure a vaccine is safe and works well are preclinical studies, ... clinical trial, ... post-immunisation surveillance and human-challenge studies.”

She unpacked the process:

• Vaccines are tested in animal studies for efficiency and safety, including challenge studies.

• Small groups of healthy adult volunteers receive the vaccine test for safety. 

• The vaccine is given to people who have characteristics, such as age and physical health, similar to those for whom the new vaccine is intended.

• The vaccine is given to thousands of people and tested for efficiency and safety.

• Ongoing studies after the vaccine is approved and licensed to monitor adverse events and to study long-term effects thereof in the population. 

• Studies in which a vaccine is given, followed by the pathogen against which the vaccine is designed to protect. Such trials are uncommon in people as they present considerable ethical challenges.

Msomi said the emergency situation warranted an emergency response.

None of the Covid-19 vaccines authorised under an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) contain egg, nor were eggs used in their production.

—  Dr Nokukhanya Msomi

“The worldwide impact of the Covid-19 pandemic prompted many pharmaceutical companies and governments to invest significant resources into quickly developing a vaccine.”

On concerns about side-effects, Msomi said early phase studies showed they are safe, “while there may be short-term mild vaccine reactions that resolve without complication or injury”.

The most prevalent myth about vaccines suggests they have been developed to control the general population with microchip tracking or to alter the DNA of recipients. 

“There is no vaccine microchip and the vaccine will not track people or gather personal information into a database.

“Injecting a Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine into the body will not do anything to the DNA of cells. Human cells break down and get rid of the mRNA soon after they have finished using the instructions,” Msomi explained.

She added that no Covid-19 vaccines authorised under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) contain egg nor were eggs used in their production.