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Published on: Jul 17, 2020
2 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

MRNA Vaccine Against SARS CoV2

An mRNA Vaccine against SARS CoV2

We have previously discussed vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. On the 14th of July, a preliminary study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, an internationally reputable medical journal. This study looks at mRNA vaccines in Phase 1 human clinical trials, a first for the virus. Here we will discuss what this means and the results of the study.

mRNA vaccine

Vaccines target the immune system’s memory by presenting them with pieces of these infective diseases. The small amounts do not cause any infective symptoms, but if the person is infected later in life their body will mount a quicker response and prevent them from falling ill. These vaccines can contain broken up parts of the organisms, “dead” organisms or “live” versions that have been severely weakened so they cannot cause any harm.

In 2018 a new type of vaccine was described. Instead of using pre-made protein markers that identify infectious organisms, mRNA vaccines contain genetic material with instructions to produce these markers. Once injected, the person’s cells use these instructions to produce copies of these protein markers. These markers are displayed on the surface of the cell, which in turn is recognized by the immune system, initiating an immune response and producing protective antibodies.

BENEFITS

A major advantage of RNA vaccines is the ease by which they can be made in a laboratory from a DNA template. During a pandemic, this would result in a rapid response and vaccine against a new disease. Conventional vaccines require the use of chicken eggs or cells to produce the vaccines, which can be expensive and time-consuming. These vaccines can be delivered via injections into the skin, blood, muscle, or organs, needle-free into the skin, or via nasal spray. Because these vaccines are so new, we still do not know the best way to deliver it.

Because these vaccines are not made with parts of infective organisms or from live organisms, they are not infectious and will not cause harm through a strong immune response to the vaccine itself, or by causing the disease they aim to vaccinate against. They also appear to be very efficient at generating a reliable immune response to produce antibodies and are well tolerated with few side effects.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

Because these types of vaccines are so new there is still a lot we do not understand about them. They may cause unintended effects that we have not yet encountered in human clinical studies. These vaccines also need to be frozen or refrigerated, and so would not be suitable for countries with limited or no refrigeration facilities.

COVID

The SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine codes for one of the virus’ surface spike proteins, responsible for recognizing target cells and fusing the virus into the cell for entry and infection. It was previously recognized as a target for the SARS and MERS viruses.

45 participants received 2 intramuscular injections 28 days apart. None of the participants had any serious side effects after the first injection, or any side effects significant enough to stop the trial. Many had minor to moderate side effects after their second injection (such as fatigue, chills, headache, myalgia, and pain at the injection site), and half the participants taking high dose vaccines had febrile side effects. Overall the side effects were rated as acceptable.

Prior to the vaccine trials, none of the participants had any antibodies against COVID, or any capacity to stop a COIVD infection. After the injections, all participants had noticeable increases in antibodies produced, measurable in their blood. After 43 days, the participant's blood had enough antibodies to reduce infection by SARS-CoV-2 by over 80%.

What is the takeaway? The vaccine is capable of producing an adequate response to protect the vaccine recipient without eliciting any major side effects. These results will be used in phase 2 clinical trials (enrolment began in May) and a phase 3 trial in July 2020. Essentially this means further human trials to further look for side effects in a larger number of volunteers with a more diverse health profile.

This represents an interesting development in producing a rapid vaccine against a new virus responsible for a world-changing pandemic. This new type of vaccine may be the future of vaccines for a broader range of viruses, bacteria, and even cancers.

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AI-Based Disease Detection India: The Future of Smart, Preventive Healthcare

In today’s fast-evolving world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing how diseases are detected, diagnosed, and treated.
No longer confined to research labs, AI is now an integral part of India’s healthcare infrastructure - enhancing precision, speed, and accessibility.

SecondMedic stands at the forefront of this movement, offering AI-based disease detection services that empower both doctors and patients to take control of their health before illness strikes.

The Shift from Reactive to Predictive Healthcare

Traditional healthcare often begins after symptoms appear.
But with AI, the focus shifts to predictive and preventive medicine - where conditions are identified early, and interventions happen before complications develop.

According to IMARC Group (2025), AI-driven diagnostics in India are expected to grow by over 23% annually, driven by increased digitization, telemedicine, and affordable machine learning tools.

SecondMedic leverages AI algorithms to scan through complex datasets - lab results, medical images, and patient history - revealing hidden patterns linked to potential diseases.

How AI-Based Disease Detection Works

AI models mimic the learning patterns of the human brain, using machine learning (ML) and deep neural networks to process medical data and predict disease probability.

Here’s how SecondMedic’s system functions:

Data Collection: Inputs from diagnostic tests, imaging, and wearable sensors.
AI Analysis: The algorithm compares data against millions of medical datasets.
Pattern Recognition: It identifies anomalies or early disease markers.
Doctor Verification: AI reports are reviewed by certified specialists.
Preventive Action Plan: Tailored health recommendations are shared instantly.

This integration reduces diagnostic errors and improves time-to-detection significantly.

Applications of AI in Disease Detection

1. Early Cancer Screening

AI can detect subtle changes in cells or imaging scans - identifying cancer at its earliest stage.

2. Cardiac Risk Prediction

AI-based ECG analysis predicts heart rhythm abnormalities before symptoms appear.

3. Neurological Disorders

Machine learning helps recognize early signs of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s through speech and movement data.

4. Diabetes and Metabolic Monitoring

AI models analyze blood sugar trends and predict potential diabetic complications.

5. Infectious Disease Detection

AI tools track pathogen spread, improving early detection of viral or bacterial outbreaks.

India’s Adoption of AI Healthcare

India is among the fastest-growing adopters of AI in healthcare.
NITI Aayog’s 2024 AI Health Report highlights initiatives that integrate AI diagnostics into public hospitals and telemedicine systems.

Major drivers include

Government’s Digital India Health Mission
AI collaborations between startups and research institutes
Improved affordability of cloud-based diagnostics

SecondMedic aligns perfectly with these efforts, making advanced disease detection available nationwide - from metros to tier-2 towns.

Benefits of AI-Based Disease Detection

Early Detection: Predict diseases before symptoms appear.
Increased Accuracy: Eliminate human oversight in pattern analysis.
Faster Diagnosis: Reduce waiting times for reports.
Personalized Insights: Adapt prevention plans to individual data.
Cost Efficiency: Save on expensive late-stage treatments.

According to FICCI-EY (2024), AI diagnostics can reduce misdiagnosis rates by up to 40%, leading to faster recovery and improved patient outcomes.

AI Meets Compassion: SecondMedic’s Approach

SecondMedic’s philosophy is simple - combine cutting-edge AI with compassionate care.
Every AI-generated result is reviewed by certified doctors to ensure human validation, maintaining the empathy and context technology alone cannot provide.

Patients receive personalized insights, along with recommendations on preventive measures, screenings, and lifestyle changes.

Data Security and Ethics

Healthcare data is highly sensitive, and SecondMedic ensures full HIPAA and ABDM compliance.
All records are encrypted and stored securely with patient-controlled access, ensuring trust and transparency in AI healthcare.

The Future: Predictive AI for Everyone

Imagine a world where your phone notifies you of potential blood pressure or glucose spikes - before they happen.
That’s the vision SecondMedic is building through its AI-based preventive platform, integrating continuous data from wearables, smart diagnostics, and online consultations.

The goal is not to replace doctors - but to empower them with real-time intelligence that saves lives.

Conclusion

AI-based disease detection isn’t just innovation - it’s a healthcare revolution.
With platforms like SecondMedic, India is moving toward an era where diseases are predicted, not suffered, and prevention begins with data.

By merging human empathy with artificial intelligence, SecondMedic is ensuring that every diagnosis leads to smarter, faster, and more compassionate healthcare.

Experience AI-powered health diagnostics today at www.secondmedic.com

References

NITI Aayog - AI for Healthcare in India Report 2024
IMARC Group - AI-Based Diagnostics Market India 2025-2028
FICCI-EY - Digital Transformation in Indian Healthcare 2024
ABDM - Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission - https://abdm.gov.in
Statista - Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Indian Healthcare 2025

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