Final answer:
mRNA vaccines use messenger RNA to teach the immune system how to recognize and fight a specific virus by producing proteins that trigger an immune response.
Step-by-step explanation:
mRNA vaccines, such as the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, work by using a small piece of genetic material called messenger RNA (mRNA) to teach the body's immune system how to recognize and fight a specific virus, in this case SARS-CoV-2. The mRNA in the vaccine contains instructions to produce the spike protein found on the surface of the virus. Once the mRNA is injected into the body, it enters cells and provides the instructions for making the spike protein. The immune system recognizes the spike protein as foreign and mounts an immune response against it, producing antibodies that can protect against future infections.