The new mRNA COVID vaccine uses established research to create a safe and effective defense against coronavirus. | Harvard University

Animation showing how the mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 works. The new vaccine, BNT162b2, has been developed by Pfizer/BioNTech. It uses a strand of messenger RNA genetic material (blue) based on that in the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. This is injected into the body encased in lipid nanoparticles, which allow it to be taken up by the body's cells. The mRNA is read by the cells, causing them to produce a mutated version of the viral spike protein (pink). The mutation has been designed