Skip to main content
Timely Topics

COVID-19 Resources

The following information addresses common public health questions about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. It reflects currently available data from global health authorities and scientific literature. This information does not replace recommendations from health authorities or healthcare providers.

Topics are updated on an ongoing basis. Last updated October 17, 2025.

People discussing a print out around a table

Timely Topics

DNA Contamination

Biodistribution Studies

Cancer Risk

Pediatric Safety

References

¹ Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Summary report of residual DNA and endotoxin on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines conducted by TGA Laboratories. 2024. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/publication/tga-laboratory-testing-reports/summary-report-residual-dna-and-endotoxin-covid-19-mrna-vaccines-conducted-tga-laboratories
² World Health Organization (WHO). Guidelines on the quality, safety and efficacy of biotherapeutic protein products prepared by recombinant DNA technology. WHO Technical Report Series No. 987, Annex 4. Geneva: WHO, 2014. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/biologicals/biotherapeutics/trs_987_annex4.pdf?sfvrsn=d4ba378a_5
³ FDA (2010). Guidance for Industry: Characterization and Qualification of Cell Substrates and Other Biological Materials Used in the Production of Viral Vaccines. Washington, DC. https://www.fda.gov/media/78428/download
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ International Council for Harmonisation (ICH). Q2(R2): Validation of Analytical Procedures. Step 4 adopted 1 Nov 2023. https://database.ich.org/sites/default/files/ICH_Q2%28R2%29_Guideline_2023_1130.pdf
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ König B, Kirchner J. Methodological considerations regarding the quantification of DNA impurities in the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine Comirnaty®. Methods and Protocols. 2024;7(3):41. https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9279/7/3/41
⁸ Kaiser S, Kaiser S, Reis J, Marschalek R. Quantification of objective concentrations of DNA impurities in mRNA vaccines. Vaccine. 2025;55:127022. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127022.
⁹ Ibid.
¹⁰ Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI). Testing of mRNA vaccines for residual DNA contamination. Updated 2025. https://www.pei.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/newsroom-en/notification/231222-testing-mrna-vaccinas-dna-contamination.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3
¹¹ Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Summary report of residual DNA and endotoxin on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines conducted by TGA Laboratories. 2024. https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/addressing-misinformation-about-excessive-dna-mrna-vaccines
¹² U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Letter to Florida Surgeon General regarding mRNA vaccines and DNA concerns. December 14, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/files/emergency preparedness and response/published/final_fl_sg_response_12142023.pdf
¹³ European Medicines Agency (EMA). Spikevax (previously COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna). Updated September 2025. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/spikevax
¹⁴ Bhattacharjee S, et al. Immunological and Antigenic Signatures Associated with Chronic Post-Vaccination Syndrome (PVS) in COVID-19 Vaccinees. medRxiv [Preprint]. February 2025. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.18.25322379v1
¹⁵ Ibid.
¹⁶ ModernaTX. Data on File (as of 10/2025)
¹⁷ Gómez-Mantilla JD, et al. ADME process in vaccines and PK/PD approaches for vaccination optimization. In: Zhou H, Theil P, eds. ADME Translational PK/PD of Therapeutic Proteins. John Wiley & Sons; 2016:1–22
¹⁸ NIH: National Cancer Institute. What is Cancer? https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
¹⁹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). COVID-19 Vaccine Basics. Updated September 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/how-they-work.html
²⁰ Rosa, Sara et al. mRNA Vaccines Manufacturing: Challenges and Bottlenecks. Vaccine. 2021 Mar 24;39(16):2190–2200. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.03.038
²¹ U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Letter to Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo regarding mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and residual DNA/SV40 concerns. December 14, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/files/emergency%20preparedness%20and20response/published/final_fl_sg_response_12142023.pdf
²² Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. May 22, 2025. Meeting Presentation – Moderna- COVID-19 Vaccines Update. https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/advisory-committee-calendar/vaccines-and-related-biological-products-advisory-committee-may-22-2025-meeting-announcement
²³ U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Letter to Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo regarding mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and residual DNA/SV40 concerns. December 14, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/files/emergency%20preparedness%20and20response/published/final_fl_sg_response_12142023.pdf
²⁴ Australian Government DOH, Disability & Ageing. Is it True? Get the Facts on COVID-19 Vaccines. May 2024. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true
²⁵ European Medicines Agency. COVID-19 vaccine: Key facts. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-medicines/covid-19-vaccines-key-facts
²⁶ Meyer, S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Update on CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Monitoring. June 2025 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Meeting. https://www.cdc.gov/acip/downloads/slides-2025-06-25-26/04-Meyer-COVID-508.pdf
²⁷ Hause et al. Safety Monitoring of Bivalent COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Booster Doses Among Children Aged 5–11 Years — United States, October 12–January 1, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023 Jan 13;72(2):39-43. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7202a5
²⁸ Hu, M et al. Safety of ancestral monovalent BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 vaccines in U.S. children aged 6 months–17 years. JAMA Network Open, 7(4), e248192; 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11043896/
²⁹ Goddard et al. Safety of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination Among Young Children in the Vaccine Pediatrics. 2023 Jul 1;152(1):e2023061894. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-061894
³⁰ HHS, 2025. ACIP Recommends COVID-19 Immunization Based on Individual Decision-making. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/acip-recommends-covid19-vaccination-individual-decision-making.html
³¹ CDC. About the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety-systems/vaers/index.html
³² Meyer, S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Update on CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Monitoring. June 2025 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Meeting. https://www.cdc.gov/acip/downloads/slides-2025-06-25-26/04-Meyer-COVID-508.pdf
³³ Sørup S, Rasmussen T, Fry C, et al. Monitoring the safety of mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine in the general population: results of a regulator-mandated post-authorisation safety study in Denmark, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom (EUPAS44273). International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology Annual Meeting; 2025. [Abstract 5C-01, 2025 ISPE Meeting]. https://2025ispe.eventscribe.net/ajaxcalls/presenterInfo.asp?PresenterId=2169776
³⁴ Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. May 22, 2025. Meeting Presentation – Moderna- COVID-19 Vaccines Update. https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/advisory-committee-calendar/vaccines-and-related-biological-products-advisory-committee-may-22-2025-meeting-announcement
³⁵ Australian Government DOH, Disability & Ageing. COVID-19 vaccine safety report - 02-11-23. https://www.tga.gov.au/news/covid-19-vaccine-safety-reports/covid-19-vaccine-safety-report-02-11-23
³⁶ European Medicines Agency. COVID-19 vaccine: Key facts. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-medicines/covid-19-vaccines-key-facts