DISINFO: Vaccines may have led to the beginning of the pandemic and could alter our DNA
SUMMARY
The mechanisms used in vaccine manufacturing may have led to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through gene manipulations with coronavirus in Wuhan labs – where they worked on the development of vector vaccines. We must be able to react quickly to prevent similar pandemics in the future – both natural and manmade.
Although it seems right now that Western vaccine manufacturers do not have enough vaccines, they will definitely find some to make sure we do not use the Russian or Chinese vaccines. It is all about money and we can only look forward to upcoming “miracles” in gene and molecular engineering (such as DNA vaccines and changes in the molecular machinery of cells in our body). These technologies can cause a lot of good but can completely alter the current world order on our planet if a mistake occurs.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about coronavirus and vaccines.
There is no evidence to claim that novel coronavirus was genetically manufactured. According to the World Health Organisation, COVID-19 pandemic is caused by a coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses, several of which cause respiratory diseases in humans, from the common cold to more rare and serious diseases such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), both of which have high mortality rates and were detected for the first time in 2003 and 2012, respectively. SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, belongs to a group of genetically related viruses that includes SARS-CoV and a number of other CoVs isolated from bat populations.
Vaccines cannot alter people’s DNA, simply because gene modification would mean the DNA (or in the case of these COVID-19 vaccines, the RNA) in the vaccine would have to be inserted inside the cells. That does not happen. They rather “inject part of the virus’ DNA/RNA into tissues to stimulate an immune response in the body.” Although it is true that mRNA vaccines have previously not been used on a large scale, they are subject to the same thorough evaluation as the other types of vaccines (see here for the US or here for the EU).