Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 01, 2025 4 hours, 59 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers from Link Campus University in Rome, Italy, and Balamand University in Tripoli, Lebanon, have raised new concerns about impurities in mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines were created at record speed during the height of the pandemic. They work by using laboratory-made messenger RNA (mRNA) to teach the body to produce the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which then trains the immune system to defend itself.
Hidden DNA Traces Found in COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Raise Concerns
However, this
Medical News report highlights that in the manufacturing process, fragments of plasmid DNA (pDNA)—used as templates to make the mRNA—sometimes end up in the final vaccine vials. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the amount of this leftover DNA should not exceed 10 nanograms per dose, but controversy has emerged over whether that safety threshold has always been respected.
Safety Debate Over DNA Impurities
Some possibly paid scientists who were not involved in the manufacturing process, insist the detected DNA was within safe WHO limits, while other credible researchers with no vested interest report levels higher than allowed even after purification. The concern is not only about quantity but also about what such DNA fragments could potentially do inside the human body. Researchers warn that these impurities could, in theory, stimulate abnormal immune responses or even integrate into human cells, increasing the risk of unwanted genetic changes or autoimmune problems.
The study also points out that the human body naturally produces antibodies against stray DNA, a phenomenon linked to autoimmune conditions such as lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes, and autoimmune hepatitis. Interestingly, these same conditions have been reported in some individuals following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, although no direct cause has yet been proven.
Real-World Implications
Adding to the debate, a new study involving 98 patients found that those who received both an mRNA vaccine and an inactivated whole-virus COVID-19 vaccine showed an unusual rise in antibodies targeting double-stranded DNA. This finding suggests that DNA impurities might contribute to immune system disturbances when combined with certain vaccine types and deserves urgent further study.
The researchers also noted that recent moves by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to cut back funding for mRNA vaccine development may reflect growing caution, with officials preferring to focus on vaccine technologies with stronger safety records.
What This Means for the Future
The presence of DNA impurities in mRNA vaccines does not automatically mean they are unsafe, but it raises important questions about long-term effects. The study concludes that while mRNA technology remains groundbreaking, regulators and manufacturers must ensure strict quality control to prevent any excess pDNA from slipping through. More research is urgently needed to clarify whether these impurities could play a role in
triggering autoimmune conditions or other health risks.
Ultimately, the findings remind us that safety monitoring should not stop once vaccines reach the public. Careful investigation into rare or delayed side effects is essential for building long-term trust in new medical technologies.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Microorganisms.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/9/1975
For the latest on the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/scientists-warn-that-covid-19-vaccines-damage-blood-vessel-linings-and-cause-multisystem-inflammation
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/japanese-study-uncovers-why-the-covid-19-vaccinated-are-more-vulnerable-to-reinfection-or-breakthrough-infections
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/vaccine-news
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