Dr Ralph Baric of University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, co-authors a paper that demonstrates that zinc inhibits RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which functions as the core enzyme for the replication of positive-stranded RNA (+RNA) viruses such as influenza viruses and coronaviruses. Note COVID-19 vaccine mRNA is positively charged. But zinc cannot enter the cell without an ionophore. [1]
An ionophore is a fat-soluble substance that can transport non-fat soluble elements (such as zinc) across the cell membrane to aid entry into the cell, from there the zinc can inhibit viral replication. [2, 3]
Combining zinc with an ionophore such as hydroxychloroquine could inhibit viral replication, and thus prevent disease progression.
Dr Ralph Baric is intimately involved in coronavirus GOF research with from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, as well as he has received funding for work on Remdesivir (GS-5734) by Gilead.