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mRNA vaccines may make unintended proteins, but there’s no evidence of harm
Alterations that help messenger RNA persist in living cells can trip up protein synthesis

Even after the billions of doses given during the pandemic, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines still hold surprises. A study out today reveals they may unexpectedly prompt cells to produce small amounts of unintended proteins. There is no evidence that these mistakes compromise the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines, which saved millions of lives, and the researchers have already proposed a fix that may help make future vaccines or drugs based on mRNAs safer and even more effective.

Other scientists say there is nothing alarming about the new work, reported today in Nature, and agree that it could help improve the design of mRNA treatments still under development. The “landmark study” provides fresh insights into how cells make proteins from both natural and artificial mRNA, virologist Stephen Griffin at the University of Leeds told the U.K. Science Media Centre. He added that “some of the future wider therapeutic uses for RNA technology beyond vaccines may involve higher and more frequent dosing, so any and all possible issues need to be addressed.”