# Spike protein shedding from vaccines **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [June 30, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333 "2021-06-30T16:36:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jawbreaker1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jawbreaker1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jawbreaker1)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/1 "2021-06-30T16:36:59Z")
What’s the straight dope on studies supporting the potential for spike protein “shedding”, transmission of the protein from a vaccinated to an unvaccinated person, resulting in symptoms induced in the latter? [https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/23?fbclid=IwAR0LbTc7zBvxq\_VXIYymyaOreTeybnBscvKbLzPvnSipVcsvG8mLp6s8Ssk](https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/23?fbclid=IwAR0LbTc7zBvxq_VXIYymyaOreTeybnBscvKbLzPvnSipVcsvG8mLp6s8Ssk) ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/2 "2021-06-30T16:40:36Z")
That’s entirely false. This is a notion created by anti-vaxxers in an effort to scare people into not getting vaccines. I just got my second shot today. To be honest, if “shedding” were a thing I’d welcome it, since an immune reaction to these “shed” spikes would prime my immune system to fight the coronavirus. I could have gotten “shedding-based” immunity weeks earlier, if such a thing were possible. The only thing you get from the mRNA vaccines are the instructions to create spikes for a limited period of time. The spikes do not cause illness themselves (which is why they’re used in the vaccine). ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/3 "2021-06-30T16:52:48Z")
The “International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research” that you linked to is not a real scientific journal. It is a mouthpiece for antivax crackpots. Note that one author of that “scientific paper” on immunology purports to be a computer scientist, the other a naturopathic oncologist. So he’s qualified to administer kale enemas to treat pancreatic cancer. The extent of the “peer review” is one antivax crackpot nodding sagely at the nonsense that another antivax crackpot pulled out of his backside. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/4 "2021-06-30T16:54:45Z")
It’s complete and utter bullshit. The first author (Seneff) is a known anti-vax crackpot with no medical or biology training. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/5 "2021-06-30T19:04:37Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > To be honest, if “shedding” were a thing I’d welcome it, since an immune reaction to these “shed” spikes would prime my immune system to fight the coronavirus. I could have gotten “shedding-based” immunity weeks earlier, if such a thing were possible. That was what I was thinking too; what an amazingly serendipitous side effect of mRNA vaccines that would be? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/6 "2021-06-30T19:15:31Z")
> [@Jawbreaker1](#): > > What’s the straight dope on studies supporting the potential for spike protein “shedding”, transmission of the protein from a vaccinated to an unvaccinated person, resulting in symptoms induced in the latter? Are you a regular follower of this journal? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/7 "2021-06-30T19:15:53Z")
XKCD explains it well: > **[mRNA Vaccine](https://xkcd.com/2425/)** > > To ensure lasting immunity, doctors recommend destroying a second Death Star some time after the first. ---
**Author:** ![Jawbreaker1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jawbreaker1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jawbreaker1)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/9 "2021-06-30T19:32:24Z")
Here is a good explanation as to why it cant work the way they say. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9EfToFXwx98/maxresdefault.jpg "Will Vaccine Generated Spike Proteins Bind To Our Cells?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EfToFXwx98) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/10 "2021-06-30T19:56:17Z")
That’s a 37 minute video by someone I’ve never heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/11 "2021-06-30T20:02:28Z")
> [@Jawbreaker1](#): > > Here is a good explanation as to why it cant work the way they say. Why _what_ can’t work the way _who_ says? And who is making this claim? Could you cut to the chase here, please. Is your agenda here to promote an antivax position? If so, that’s fine - obviously I disagree, but if you state your beliefs clearly and the foundation for those beliefs, I’m happy to engage with that and provide facts and evidence to support the consensus scientific position. But you’ll have to do better than (a) linking to an antivax magazine dishonestly posing as a scientific journal; (b) posting a link to a long video with nothing but a vague comment. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/12 "2021-06-30T20:33:24Z")
There’s zero evidence that vaccinated people can make others sick by “shedding” Covid-19 spike proteins. It’s scaremongering by antivaxers, the latest example of a tactic they’ve used before in relation to other vaccines. > **[Shedding: An antivax trope resurrected for COVID-19 vaccines](https://www.respectfulinsolence.com/2021/04/23/shedding-covid19-vaccine/)** > > Antivax pediatrician Dr. Larry Palevsky demonized COVID-19 vaccines by resurrecting an old antivaccine trope of the vaccinated "shedding." The only good thing about this nonsense is that if you’re wearing a t-shirt or sticker that says you’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19, potentially infectious antivaxers are more likely to keep their distance. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/13 "2021-06-30T23:02:33Z")
That article has so many fun quotes. For example, in the “unprecedented” box: > 1.First to use PEG (polyethylene glycol) in an injection (see text) > 2.Firstto usemRNAvaccine technology against an infectious agent > 3.First time Moderna has brought any product to market > 4.Firstto have public health officials telling those receiving the vaccination to expectan adverse reaction > 5.Firstto be implemented publicly with nothing more than preliminary efficacy data (see text) > 6.Firstvaccine to make no clear claims about reducing infections, transmissibility, or deaths > 7.Firstcoronavirusvaccine ever attempted in humans > 8.Firstinjection of genetically modified polynucleotides in the general population 1. So what? 2. So what? 3. So what? 4. FALSE 5. FALSE 6. FALSE 7. So what? 8. What the fuck is a “genetically-modified polynucleotide”? It’s just a polynucleotide. Is that supposed to make it sound like GMO’s? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/14 "2021-06-30T23:09:12Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > 1. What the fuck is a “genetically-modified polynucleotide”? It’s just a polynucleotide. Is that supposed to make it sound like GMO’s? A _poly_ nucleotide? You want **LOTS** of nucleotides, which must be like oodles of little boxes of radioactive ☢ Tide, sloshing around in your precious bodily fluids? It’s no wonder that _ **plenty** _ of people would rather die naturally. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/15 "2021-06-30T23:47:08Z")
The prion part is my favorite. > When considering that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is a transmembrane protein, and that it contains fiveGxxxG motifs in its sequence (see [UniProt](http://uniprot.org/uniprot/P0DTC2)), it becomes extremely plausible that it could behave as a prion. One of the GxxxG sequences is present within its membrane fusion domain. Recall that the mRNA vaccines are designed with an altered sequencethat replaces two adjacent amino acids in the fusion domain with a pair of prolines. This is done intentionally in order to force the protein to remain in its open state and make it harder for it to fuse with the membrane. This seems to us like a dangerous step towards misfolding potentially leading to prion disease. First, I looked for repeated GxxxG motifs. I couldn’t find two consecutive, let alone five consecutive motifs. But let’s say they’re there. You know what else has prion motifs? SARS-CoV-2! So how exactly are these supposed to “shed” and be transmitted? Prions are in the meat, urine, and feces. You get them by eating contaminated meat. Soooo we need to avoid cannibalizing each other? ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/16 "2021-06-30T23:58:16Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > A _poly_ nucleotide? You want **LOTS** of nucleotides, which must be like oodles of little boxes of radioactive ☢ Tide, sloshing around in your precious bodily fluids? Well, also the _ **poly** _ethylene glycol they put in it. Lots of poly being introduced into our precious bodily fluids! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/17 "2021-07-01T01:00:44Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > So how exactly are these supposed to “shed” and be transmitted? Prions are in the meat, urine, and feces. You get them by eating contaminated meat. Soooo we need to avoid cannibalizing each other? You have to eat a vaccinated person’s brain. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/18 "2021-07-01T01:18:22Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > You have to eat a vaccinated person’s brain. It’s always zombies. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spike-protein-shedding-from-vaccines/945333/19 "2021-07-01T02:20:51Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The only good thing about this nonsense is that if you’re wearing a t-shirt or sticker that says you’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19, potentially infectious antivaxers are more likely to keep their distance. Yep. I hope antivaxxers stay a long, long way away from me. I’m shedding protein like a … (you get the idea)