# Is this as scary as it sounds? - New COVID variant 'real cause for concern'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405>\
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone\
**Tags:** covid-quarantine\
**Created:** [December 19, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405 "2020-12-19T17:50:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405/122 "2021-02-11T02:06:24Z")

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Is there a difference between how RNA vaccines (like Moderna) combat mutations vs inactivated-virus or adenovirus-vector vaccines?

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**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405/123 "2021-02-11T02:13:21Z")

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There are mechanical differences but they both trick human cells to produce a “bad protein” that initiates an immune response.

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**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405/124 "2021-02-11T02:18:43Z")

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What is your point exactly?

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**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405/125 "2021-02-11T02:19:15Z")

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> [@FigNorton](#):
>
> There are mechanical differences but they both trick human cells to produce a “bad protein” that initiates an immune response.

They’re not asking how RNA vaccines work.

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**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405/126 "2021-02-11T03:08:16Z")

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You’re right but I thought he was asking the differences between vaccines against the main virus. My answer to his actual question is that both the mRNA vaccines and the adenovirus vaccines can be fairly quickly altered to deal with variants. Hopefully.

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**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405/127 "2021-02-11T03:39:39Z")

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> [@EastUmpqua](#):
>
> Is there a difference between how RNA vaccines (like Moderna) combat mutations vs inactivated-virus or adenovirus-vector vaccines?

Here’s an article that talks about the differences.

> **[Vaccines Versus the Mutants](https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/vaccines-versus-the-mutants-68430)**
>
> Facing new variants of SARS-CoV-2, some vaccines may offer more robust protection or be more easily redesigned to target them.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-as-scary-as-it-sounds-new-covid-variant-real-cause-for-concern/928405/129 "2021-02-12T00:26:38Z")

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Thanks for the link. It looks like the mRNA vaccines are the best bet.

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