There are a few options now available as far as COVID shots near you that can help you fight back against the Coronavirus.

How Do Vaccines Work?

A vaccine is a catalyst for an immune response that teaches your body how to fight future infection.

While some vaccines use a whole virus, others only use a small portion or even genetic material to instruct your body to effectively fight off a virus.

What is an mRNA Vaccine?

An mRNA vaccine (also known as Messenger RNA) uses genetically engineered mRNA to prompt your cells to make the S protein that is found on the COVID-19 virus.

This results in your body working efficiently should you become infected with the virus so that your antibodies can fight it off. 

Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna are all mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

What is a Vector Vaccine?

This type of vaccine uses weakened genetic material from the live virus to prompt the production of S protein. 

It is important to understand that a viral vector vaccine will not cause you to become infected with the COVID-19 virus.

The Janssen/Johnson & Jonson vaccine is a vector virus vaccine. 

 What is a Protein Subunit Vaccine?

Subunit vaccines use one small part of a virus that will most effectively stimulate your immune system for a response.

There is currently no subunit vaccine available, however, Novawax is working on one.

Which COVID-19 Vaccine Should I Get?

Currently, the FDA has authorized Pfizer,-BioNTech, Moderna, and the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

However, there has been a pause on the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine currently due to rare blood clotting side effects as they continue to monitor these issues.

COVID Vaccine Shots Near Me in Bowie Maryland

At Bowie Internal Medicine we are proud to offer COVID-19 vaccines for our patients out of our Bowie, Maryland office.

To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine, please call us today at (301) 262 – 8188.