Q. HOW DOES IT WORK?

A.The Moderna vaccine uses a synthetic genetic code called RNA to give your body’s cells instructions on how to make the coronavirus’s unique spike protein.

After getting the vaccine, your body makes copies of the spike protein. When your body has made the protein encoded by the mRNA vaccine, it then recognises the spike protein as being foreign and launches an immune response against it.

Your immune system will then learn to recognise and fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

Protection against Covid-19 takes effect about two weeks after the first dose of Moderna. One dose gives some protection, while two doses will give optimal protection.

No vaccine is 100 per cent effective, so it is possible that you can still get infected and sick. This means it is still important to continue other preventative measures such as social distancing, regular hand washing and sanitising, wearing a face mask, getting tested if symptoms occur, and observing quarantine and isolation directions.