Trickle of truth

The spike protein exhibits pathogenic characteristics Multiple studies have shown an increased risk of myocarditis after vaccination with mRNA encoding SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. mRNA vaccines can result in spike protein expression in Muscle tissue Lymphatic system Cardiomyocytes Other cells after entry into the circulation. There is concern that COVID-19 vaccination per se might contribute to long COVID, giving rise to the colloquial term ‘Long Vax(x)’ The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 exhibits pathogenic characteristics and is a possible cause of post-acute sequelae, after SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines utilise a modified, stabilised prefusion spike protein that might share similar toxic effects with its viral counterpart. Not the natural Uridine Uracil is one of the four nucleobases in RNA Adenine, cytosine, guanine The Critical Contribution of Pseudouridine to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Both consisted of N1-methyl-pseudouridine-modified mRNA encoding the SARS-COVID-19 Spike protein and were delivered with a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation A possible association between COVID-19 vaccination and the incidence of POTS has been demonstrated in a cohort of 284,592 COVID-19-vaccinated individuals Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is when your heart rate increases very quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down. Recipients of two or more injections of the mRNA vaccines display a class switch to IgG4 antibodies. Abnormally high levels of IgG4 Might cause autoimmune diseases Promote cancer growth Autoimmune myocarditis Other IgG 4-related diseases There are clear implications for vaccine boosting where these and similar observations, relating to COVID-19 vaccination and the incidence of long COVID-like symptoms are substantiated, adding further to public health officials’ concerns. Understanding the persistence of viral mRNA, and viral protein and their cellular pathological effects after vaccination with and without infection is clearly required. Because COVID-19 vaccines were approved without long-term safety data and might cause immune dysfunction, it is perhaps premature to assume that past SARS-CoV-2 infection is the sole common factor in long COVID. Millions worldwide experience post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC or long COVID) Although the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other health agencies in Australia do not survey the prevalence of long COVID, it is estimated that it affects hundreds of thousands Long COVID is a heterogeneous disease with variable cardiac, pulmonary, haematological and neurological involvement There is no consensus on what causes lingering COVID-19 symptoms long after the acute infection has cleared. Often unable to secure a diagnosis, patients are wont to seek multiple serial medical opinions, frequently being told their condition is due to anxiety or post-pandemic mental issues. The median duration of long COVID symptoms is five months, but 10% of patients still experience symptoms at 12 months. Fatigue, shortness of breath and difficulty concentrating are reported at least up to two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is still too early to say whether some individuals with long COVID might never recover. Long COVID patients present elevated inflammatory biomarkers, (eg interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-α) Those subscribing to long COVID digital support groups report months of frustration at not being listened to, finding the health system woefully inadequate, with few primary or secondary care professionals knowing enough to offer much. The outcome for some of those experiencing long COVID is self-prescribed medication using over-the-counter remedies and dietary changes based on potentially conflicting or misleading online information. Some speak of a substantial proportion of their income being used in this way. In Australia, an estimated 240,000 of those with long COVID no longer work full time. Work absenteeism might significantly impact the nation’s economy, as in the UK. In the US, long COVID has been declared a national emergency. Reduced to working part time to cope with unwellness, those with long COVID commonly report having to wait a year or more before receiving a diagnosis.