Self-replicating mRNA Covid-19 vaccines:

GS Paper 3: Topics Covered: Developments in Science and Technology.   Context: A California based pharmaceutical company has developed ARCT-154, a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 infection.   Benefits: It offered 95% protection against severe Covid-19 and 55% against Covid infection.   What are mRNA vaccines? An mRNA vaccine use messenger RNA that encodes the …

mRNA vaccine technology:

GS Paper 3: Topics Covered: Biotechnology related issues.   Context: Vaccine maker Biological E. has been selected to receive mRNA technology from the World Health Organization technology transfer hub.   WHO’s technology transfer hub: Primarily set up to address the Covid-19 emergency, WHO’s technology transfer hub has the potential to expand manufacturing capacity for other products …