The vaccines do NOT do the same thing. Molnupiravir directly modifies the RNA in the SARS-CoV-2 active in the patient's body. That vaccines can serve as a forcing function for viruses is not new information, but so does immunity from previous infections, and vaccination comes with the benefit of preventing a non-zero number of infections and transmissions relative to immunity from previous infection. Vaccines in general, including the COVID vaccines, remain the single best tool for disease prevention.