A Facebook post falsely claimed that antibodies found in the saliva of those vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine could spread the mRNA and their ‘reprogrammed cells’. It shows a lack of understanding of how mRNA vaccines work.
The post has been shared hundreds of times since it was written on March 20 (here). It cites an article by News Medical, a website that reports on the latest medical research (here), which discusses a preview of a scientific article on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (here). The article specifically examines the presence of antibodies in the saliva of those who received an mRNA vaccine.
‘Eight days ago. Will those who receive the mRNA nano-devices have the mRNA in their saliva? Asks the Facebook user initially. He then quotes the News Medical article: ” Within 1-2 weeks of receiving the 2nd dose of vaccine, 37 of 37 and 8 of 8 recipients of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, respectively, have IgG antibodies to the vein protein in their had saliva. […] Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines can be detected in saliva. ”
The Facebook user then states his personal conclusion from reading the article: ‘Antibodies are in the saliva, because this is also where mRNA-1273 occurs, the antibodies go to the proposed peak proteins on cell surfaces. What this means is that those who have been vaccinated can indeed spread their reprogrammed cells. ”
It is not true. First, it should be noted that the research article is a preliminary report that has not yet been judged by a peer. Second, even if antibodies are detected, it does not mean that mRNA is present (here). Finally, the idea that cells that interact with the vaccine ‘spread’ may suggest that the vaccine recipient is contagious – but it is not.
The two mRNA vaccines discussed in scientific research – Moderna’s mRNA-1273 and Pfizer / BioNTech’s BNT162b2 – contain a small piece of the genetic code of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. This piece of genetic code, when injected, instructs human cells to create the unique vein protein that surrounds the virus. It does not contain the living virus, that is to say: the part that takes over a cell starts to repeat over and over again and can be transmitted to other people (here).
After the vein protein is made, the cell destroys the mRNA (the genetic material of the vaccine) (here, here). The newly created vein protein is then displayed on the cell’s surface, eliciting a response from the immune system. The immune system makes antibodies to fight the foreign protein, just like what would happen during an infection (here). The vaccine can also activate killer T cells to destroy cells that display the vein protein fragments on their surfaces (here).
IgG antibodies are common antibodies that can be detected in a person whose immune system has responded to COVID-19 itself or has been trained by the vaccine to respond (here, here).
VERDICT
Untrue. The mRNA vaccine cannot be “distributed” as it does not contain the live virus nor is it contagious. After entering the cell and giving instructions to make the protein, the mRNA is then destroyed.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here.