By: Varun Kumar
July 8 2021
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain luciferin or luciferase. They are compounds responsible for bioluminescence.
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain luciferin or luciferase. They are compounds responsible for bioluminescence.Some social media posts falsely claim that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine contains the luciferase enzyme in a 66.6ml solution. According to National Geographic, the compound that generates light in living organisms like fireflies and certain species of jellyfish is known as luciferin. The arrangement of luciferin molecules causes the bioluminescent color. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer/BioNTec and Moderna mRNA vaccines for emergency use in December 2020. The vaccines met statutory standards, and their data presented clear evidence that the vaccines may efficiently prevent COVID-19. The ingredients in the vaccine are disclosed in a fact sheet on FDA's website. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine contains mRNA, lipids, cholesterol, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate, and sucrose. It does not contain luciferin, an organic compound that produces light through oxidation. Furthermore, none of the other vaccines available from Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, or AstraZeneca contain luciferin. In July 2020, luciferase enzymes were used by scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to speed up vaccine development and diagnostic testing. However, the enzyme, in any form, is not a component of COVID-19 vaccines. The word or name 'Lucifer' has its derivation in Latin, which means light-bringing or morning star. In Christianity, it is the name of the fallen angel or Satan. Light is the core meaning for many similar-sounding words that have roots in Latin. Anti-vaxxers deliberately confuse people by using such words, spreading misinformation about vaccines, and undermining their confidence in vaccination altogether. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.