The Pfizer-BiоNTech аnd Mоdernа vаccines are mRNA vaccines. The mRNA in the vaccines cоntains the genetic information for the viral spike protein. A student is talking with some family members who are concerned about getting the vaccine, and one of them says the following: "It's just a myth that the vaccines actually protect against COVID-19. The only way to get your immune system to recognize and respond to a viral infection is to get the actual virus. The immune system can't learn to recognize the piece of RNA or a single viral protein, which is what the vaccine manufacturers claim." Identify the misunderstandings these family members have about the way the vaccinations work and explain how they can cause a protective immune response.