From the FDA: https://www.fda.gov/media/144246/download - So how does it work?
Simple: RNA from the vaccine enters your cells and your cells manufacture P2 S - a mutant of the virus. The mutant P2 S is incorporated by your cells into their membranes. You body sees these mutants and develops an immune response. The P2 S contains the "spike" which allows your immune system to recognize the Covid-19 "spike."
Note that your DNA is not altered. But presumably all the cells the vaccines enter are (otherwise they couldn't manufacture the PS 2.
Are these types of vaccine safe or proven historically? No.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5906799/) "mRNA vaccines represent a promising alternative to conventional vaccine approaches because of their high potency, capacity for rapid development and potential for low-cost manufacture and safe administration. However, their application has until recently been restricted by the instability and inefficient in vivo delivery of mRNA. ..."
You decide...
PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE (BNT162, PF-07302048)
VACCINES AND RELATED BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
BRIEFING DOCUMENT
MEETING DATE: 10 December 2020
Page 11:
2.2. RNA-Lipid Nanoparticle Formulation
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is based on an RNA-LNP platform of nucleoside modified RNA, which has blunted innate immune sensor activating capacity and thus augmented antigen expression. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, BNT162b2 (30 µg), encodes a P2 mutant S (P2 S) and is formulated in LNPs. Encapsulation into LNPs enables transfection of the RNA into host cells after intramuscular (IM) injection. These LNPs are composed of four different lipids in a defined ratio. During mixing of the RNA and the dissolved lipids, the lipids form the nanoparticles encapsulating the RNA. After injection, the LNPs are taken up by the cells, and the RNA is released into the cytosol. In the cytosol, the RNA is translated to the encoded viral protein. The P2 S antigen incorporates into cellular membranes and induces an adaptive immune response. As S is the antigen that recognizes ACE2 and enables infection of the host cells, it is a key target of virus neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore, as RNA-expressed S is fragmented intracellularly, the resulting peptides can be presented at the cell surface, triggering a specific T cell-mediated immune response with activity against the virus.
cy·to·sol - the aqueous component of the cytoplasm of a cell, within which various organelles and particles are suspended.
Translation is the process by which a protein is synthesized from the information contained in a molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA).