WHAT YOU’RE ASKING

What is a vaccine?

Vaccines teach your body to recognize and fight foreign invaders (viruses), and different vaccines take different paths. 

Traditional vaccines use a weakened or dead version of the actual virus or bacteria. Your immune system spots it as an unwelcome intruder, builds antibodies, then files it away for the future, so if the real virus shows up later, it’s got a playbook.

This is how vaccines for diseases like smallpox and polio work.

How is an mRNA vaccine different?
If you remember waaayyy back to seventh-grade bio, mRNA stands for “messenger RNA.” 

Think of mRNA like a recipe: it gives your cells instructions to build a protein, then breaks down once the job is done. Instead of introducing a weakened virus, the goal of an mRNA vaccine is to instruct your body to make a small piece of a virus.

They are faster to develop as viruses (like the flu) mutate, but mRNA immunity tends to fade faster, requiring more boosters. 

Here’s a lil’ graphic showing how traditional vaccines work compared to mRNA vaccines.

Wait… aren’t mRNA vaccines kinda a hot topic?
Yes, very. Here’s why:

mRNA wasn't discovered till the 60s, and early research on mRNA vaccines (as well as other vaccines) used cell lines derived from abortions. An mRNA vaccine wasn't developed until COVID-19, and critics argue Operation Warp Speed (a federal program that fast-tracked vaccine development during the pandemic) prioritized speed over safety. Last year, the FDA updated warning levels on mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to show a risk for myocarditis and pericarditis (heart conditions). 

Supporters counter that safety testing on mRNA vaccines wasn’t skipped (just performed differently) during Warp Speed, and point to large-scale studies showing rare side effects and estimates that vaccines saved ~15M lives during the pandemic. 

Until the recently approved mRNA flu vaccine, COVID was the only other mRNA vaccine out there. As the technology develops, so will the conversation, so stay tuned.

ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Culturally hot topics frequently make people think, speak, and act poorly… including us. We can respect others and represent God better if we are quick to listen and slow to speak. Believing you’re right is not an excuse to be harsh or impatient.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.” 
James 3:17 (CSB) (read full passage)

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This is the kind of collection that turns the most natural girlies into glammed girlies. Treat yourself to certified organic luxury makeup and use code TPO for 20% off Ogee’s bestselling Crystal Contour Collection!

WHAT YOU’LL ENJOY

Adding your time to the leaderboard for today’s TPO Mini Crossword #26!

Sea creatures just wanna have fun...

Jewelry and goods that give Haitian families a future. Founded by TPO reader Julie H., Vi Bella employs over 50 artisans (many with disabilities) across two centers in Haiti, making beautiful jewelry, sewn creations, and traditional home goods. Every purchase helps keep families together and kids out of orphanages. Their products are Fair Trade, faith-driven, and beautiful. Check it out for yourself!*

*This is a free promo for a TPO-reader-owned small biz. Have your own small business you want us to know about? Fill out this form!

WHAT YOU’VE BEAN CLICKING…

Top News Link: Our graphic showing the close encounter of Marine One and a commercial plane.

Top Christian Perspective: A Christian Response to discussions of AI usage… Download and save it here!

Top Whipped Cream: Our video of when our Developer prank-called our Head of Business got the most clicks this week… but also garnered some concerned emails. Nate would like to thank everyone for looking out for him and assure our readers that we have a comfortable culture of joking, and he thought they did an excellent job pulling it off.

WHAT WE’RE RECOMMENDING

What Young Adults Are Loving
The Student Life Application Study Bible*

Everything in the world, from social media to politics to TV, wants a piece of young adults’ identity. But they can build a foundation to weather any cultural storm with the Student Life Application Bible. 

Paired with the Filament Bible app, it features 27,000 in-app and in-print notes, thousands of resources (think: videos, reading plans, a full audio Bible, and interactive graphics), and full-color visuals to help them take Scripture off the page and apply it to their lives.

Whether you are a young adult or know a young adult (or are just a lifelong learner), check out the SLASB today.

*From our partners

WHAT WE’RE PRAYING

A Prayer for Love
Light of the World, You have shown me what love is: not a warm feeling pursued for my own happiness, but a costly sacrifice offered willingly for the good of the beloved. Thank You for making Your love known by sending Your only Son for the life of the world. Train me to love like You do, seeking the good of my brothers and sisters, and even my enemies, so that Your light shines in this dark world.
Amen.

LEARN WITH US

Each week, we do the deep shallow dive so that you don’t have to. We bring what we learn not only to this email, but we sit down and talk about it, too. Check out this week’s episode of TPO Explains... just click on the episode below.