Vaccines currently approved in the UK
At present, there are three Covid-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK:
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Oxford/AstraZeneca
- Moderna
How do these vaccines work?
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines: Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines. These vaccines give our body the instructions to make the ‘spike protein’, which is a harmless piece found on the surface of the Covid-19 virus. The body’s immune system recognizes that the spike protein should not be there and develops antibodies against it. This means that the body has learnt how to protect against future Covid-19 infection. Once the mRNA is used by the body, it breaks down so no more spike protein is made. mRNA vaccines do not use any live virus nor affect the body’s genetic code (DNA) in any way.
Viral vector vaccines: The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. Viral vector vaccines use a virus to deliver the ‘spike protein’, which is a harmless piece found on the surface of the Covid-19 virus. The virus used to deliver the spike protein is not the virus which causes Covid-19, but a different virus called adenovirus. Adenovirus is harmless and does not cause an infection nor affect the body’s genetic code (DNA) in any way. The body’s immune system recognizes that the delivered spike protein should not be there and develops antibodies against it. This means that the body has learnt how to protect against future Covid-19 infection.
Which vaccine should I have?
Currently, we have no evidence to suggest that one vaccine is better than the other for people with ataxia. Therefore, Ataxia UK does not recommend any particular vaccination over the other. We recommend having the vaccine type that has been offered to you.
Will having a vaccine affect me having gene therapy treatment in the future?
The majority of gene therapies currently being developed for ataxias use viruses called adeno-associated viruses. The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines do not use viruses and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine uses a virus called adenovirus. Although these names sound similar, the virus used in the Covid-19 Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (adenovirus) are a different type of virus compared to those used for gene therapy (adeno-associated viruses), and do not have the same components. There is no evidence to suggest that taking the vaccine will cause your body to make antibodies against the adeno-associated viruses that are currently being used in gene therapies. There is currently no reason to believe that having a Covid-19 vaccine will affect your eligibility or safety in a gene therapy clinical trial in the future.
If you have any questions in relation to this please contact the Ataxia UK helpline help@ataxia.org.uk or 0800 995 6037 (Tues-Thurs 10:30-14:30).
Written:18/02/2021
Disclaimer
Please understand that this advice is given on the basis of the limited information at the time of writing, and that neither Ataxia UK nor the Medical Advisor can accept responsibility for any actions arising from it.
