Experiences with mRNA in preclinical trials have been established since the 1990s - Dr Musa Mohd Nordin
Yet again another YouTube clip, this time by a local Malaysian, is being circulated with lots of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.
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| Credit: GalenCentre.org |
I usually don’t entertain such nonsense, but since I have been repeatedly asked for my opinion I will do it lock stock and barrel but only for the first few minutes.
Why? It will be a total waste of my time because you will soon realise within the first few minutes that he is neither an expert either in the science nor the religious aspect of the Covid-19 or its therapeutics.
The opening at 0:35 is completely wrong. It tells me immediately that the speaker is not a science content expert.
Pfizer uses mRNA technology. AstraZeneca does not use mRNA technology; it uses a viral vector (adenovirus) vaccine technology. The other mRNA technology vaccine manufacturer which has been conferred EUA (Emergency Use Authorisation) is Moderna.
It might interest the reader that Moderna probably has the largest experience with mRNA vaccine trials in humans. They have mRNA candidate vaccines targeting at Cytomegalovirus, hMPV, Influenza, Zika and Chikungunya.
They were the first to develop and administer the mRNA vaccines in human trials, two months after the gene sequence was shared.
Experiences with mRNA in preclinical trials have been established since the 1990s, for guys like him who thinks that this is a new science. The discipline of research was protected through pre-clinical, Phase 1 to 3 clinical trials and there were no cutting corners.
This was possible because the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of which Dr Anthony Fauci is the director, collaborated with Moderna with a research funding of US$1 billion. I believe Dr Fauci has just today got his Moderna vaccine shots.
At 0.58, he mentioned that there were no peer reviews, journal articles blah blah. He seems to not know many things which we already know and which is readily available in the public domain.
If only he would do some homework and read the publications in the New England Journal of Medicine (Pfizer) and the FDA Briefing Document on the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.
At 1.58, he alleged that we do not know the side effects of the mRNA vaccines, whether it is safe for children below five-years-old blah blah blah. It immediately tells me he has not done his research at all. Or maybe the 92-page briefing document was too daunting for him.
If he was busy or just too lazy to read the documents, he could have participated actively in the free of charge, live webcast of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting on 10 Dec 2020 (Pfizer mRNA) and 17 Dec 2020 (Moderna mRNA). To allege absence of the details of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines in terms of its efficacy, safety etc is self-incriminating.
For the sake of the readers, I will summarise the Adverse Effects Following Immunisation (AEFI). The most common reactions were injection site reactions (84.1%), fatigue (63.9%), headache (55.1%), muscle pain (38.3%), joint pain (23.6%), fever (14.2%). These are considered minor events that are associated with either the injection or the general immune response (that is typical to almost all vaccines).
The incidence of serious AEFI was extremely low, less than 0.5%, but they occurred equally in both the vaccinated and placebo groups, meaning that it’s almost impossible to find a causal relationship between them and the vaccine.
There were six total deaths, two were in the vaccine group (both from heart attacks) and four in the placebo group. None of the deaths were linked to the vaccine. This was abused by anti-vaxxers, creating fake news blaming the vaccine for the six deaths.
And by the way, the vaccine is not targeted at children. The cut-off point for the Pfizer vaccine is above 16 years old, whilst for the Moderna vaccine, it is above 18 years old.
He alleged lack of information about the ingredients of the vaccines and said that there were nanoparticles which contain aluminium blah blah blah.
This is a very favorite pastime of anti-vaxxers to accuse the vaccines of consisting of poisons and the religious bigots alleging that haram (non-permissible) ingredient were used in the production of the vaccines. They are both gonna be very disappointed.
The mRNA is probably the most purified form of vaccines to date. They contain:
- mRNA: These mRNA fragments cause the ribosomes of cells to produce the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2, which will trigger the body’s immune system to produce the protective antibodies.
- Lipids: Because the mRNA fragments would be broken down to constituent nucleotides if directly injected, they are encapsulated by lipids that “carry” the mRNA fragment from the injection site to the cell, attach to the cell, then move the mRNA into the cell.
- Preservatives: None. His repeated allegation that the nanoparticles contains aluminium which was harmful to the brain blah blah blah is a gross misinformation. Maybe he can tell us where is the aluminium in this lipid nanoparticle.
- 4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl) bis (hexane-6,1-diyl) bis (2-hexyldecanoate), 2 – [(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N, N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1,2-distearoyl -snglycero-3-phosphocholine, and cholesterol.
- Potassium chloride: A salt used to buffer the solution so that it doesn’t break down.
- Monobasic potassium phosphate: As above to maintain it within the body pH
- Sodium chloride: As above.
- Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate: As above.
- Sucrose: A disaccharide of glucose and fructose, otherwise known as table sugar. It is also used to buffer the solution.
- There are no animal proteins at all in the ingredients.
At 4.43, he talks about a drug called ivermectin in combination with zinc and doxycycline to treat Covid-19. Few major issues arise from his excitement on this drug and his advocacy for its use.
Firstly, he does not understand nor appreciate the difference between prevention and treatment. The whole idea of a vaccine is to prevent Covid disease, develop community immunity with a view to eliminate it completely, as we eradicated smallpox in 1980. This is one of the hallmarks of the Prophet’s (SAW) teachings, prevention is better than cure.
It is also based on a principle of ‘fiqh, saddu zarie’ – to close the doors of destruction. Vaccines are the best examples of primary prevention of fatal and mutilating infections.
Prior to the WHO Solidarity Trial, the investigators were claiming magic cures with “old anti-viral drugs”, just like the speaker is now claiming with the old anti-parasitic drug, ivermectin, in combination with zinc and doxycycline.
The multi-country WHO Solidarity Trial showed conclusively that remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and interferon regimens had little or no effect on hospitalised patients with Covid-19, as indicated by overall mortality, initiation of ventilation, and duration of hospital stay.
So before he makes similar claims with the 3-combo drug, he needs to be more circumspect of the rigours of double blind, placebo controlled, randomized controlled trials (RCT).
Most scientists are skeptical and think that there is currently insufficient evidence to show ivermectin can be used as therapy for COVID-19 and that RCT are needed to investigate it further. They add that until that level of evidence is achieved, it should only be used in the context of a clinical trial.
And by the way, Doxycyline is not an anti-viral, it is a tetracycline, another class of antibiotics.
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