Okay, /sci/, I have a serious question regarding COVID-19 and spike proteins and the vaccine and I'm hoping someone can actually set me straight on what seems to be a glaring hypocrisy in how this information is presented.

Ever since the start of the pandemic, people have been saying to take the virus seriously because even if it doesn't kill you we don't know the long-term effects and we can see patients dealing with effects weeks or months after recovery. One common argument I saw constantly was that even though the virus itself may not be particularly dangerous to everyone, it's the spike proteins which cause the most lasting harm. The idea that these spike proteins are what cause all the lung, heart, and vascular damage associated with COVID-19 cases that create those lasting problems like reduced lung capacity and more susceptibility to heart issues.

So then we get these mRNA vaccines, and the great part about these is that you don't have to put a live/weakened virus into a person to create an immune response to make antibodies, which is definitely a good thing. But how do they accomplish this? By injecting you with a load of mRNA which enters your cells and causes them to create spike proteins. The very same spike proteins which were associated with the worst effects and damage of the COVID-19 virus. Yet NOW everyone seems to be saying there's nothing to be worried about, long-term effects don't need to be studied before we take these vaccines, it's 100% safe and way better than getting the virus. But how can that be if you're literally being subjected to the MOST DANGEROUS PART of the virus which had already been long established to cause notable lung, heart, and vascular damage?

What am I missing here? Are the spike proteins the most dangerous part of the virus and the reason we should be afraid of contracting it, or are the spike proteins a harmless substance we can use to build immunity without a single concern for adverse effects? This doesn't add up.