Update: [AZ is a DNA shot](https://archive.is/AZ4p4) UPDATE: Janssen / Johnson & Johnson COVID shot is an ~~RNA~~DNA shot. I have this nagging question which I'm sure I can answer searching Poal, but I'm writing it down here. In the US there are four firms about whom we hear much about the COVID injections. "Mechanism of action," is a pharmacology phrase you can search for which describes how these things work. In all cases they appear to work the same way by causing cells to create Sars-CoV2 S1 spike protein sub-unit antigen. I invite you to share your knowledge, but the questions I'm working on include: 1) Why are competing firms all, effectively, doing the exact same thing? They can argue that their products are different, but it appears to me that the difference is merely in how the payload is delivered rather than what the payload is. I did not find a formula for the RNA molecule in the linked documents, but both Pfizer and Moderna use the identical phrase, "nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA)." I feel rather certain that two competing firms would not select that exact turn of phrase to identify this component of their product were it a point of differentiation between them. For this reason I believe that the, "secret sauce," is identical. 2) Do the viral vector injections from J&J and AZ also contain, "nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA)" in their viral vector products? These documents lack this phrase - perhaps because the nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) is grafted upon the virus and is thus part of that package rather than standing alone in a non-viral vector? 3) Assuming top-scientists are contributing to these products for these companies, why have they all arrived at the same conclusion that the way to immunize a person is through the immune response to expression of S protein by the patient? More likely they all picked the same mechanism of action because it was a) easy and handed to them or b) required of them. 4) Are all these firms creating their own proprietary RNA molecule which happens to express the same S1 subunit protein? Can many different RNA molecules create the expression of the same protein? 5) Are these firms licensing nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) for use in their product? If so, from whom? If not, who are the suppliers for the active ingredient? [Astra Zeneca - European Medicines Agency](https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-product-information-approved-chmp-29-january-2021-pending-endorsement_en.pdf) [Moderna](https://www.modernatx.com/covid19vaccine-eua/eua-fact-sheet-providers.pdf) [Janssen](https://www.janssenlabels.com/emergency-use-authorization/Janssen+COVID-19+Vaccine-HCP-fact-sheet.pdf) [Pfizer](http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=14471) Spike Protein Names by Vendor: Pfizer: "S glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2" Moderna: "SARS-CoV-2 S antigen" J&J: "SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) antigen" AZ: "S glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2" False choices are the new, "Freedom": - Lipid Nanoparticle or Viral Vector for your SARS-CoV-2 S antigen - Republican or Democrat - CNN or CNBC - Toilet that won't flush a turd with a round seat, or with an oval seat It's all so tiresome.