In the US, you have many different vaccine options to choose from. But what are the pros and cons of each type of vaccine?
Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine
Vaccine Type: Messenger RNA(mRNA-1273)
Manufacturer: ModernaTX
Number of Shots Required: 2 shots per 1 month, shot in the muscle of the upper arm
The Moderna Vaccine has its benefits and its cautions. The vaccine is recommended for people over 18 years of age. This vaccine is also not recommended for people who have severe allergic reactions. If you get an immediate severe allergic reaction(hives, swelling, wheezing) after getting the dose of vaccine, do not get a second dose. There can possibly be a lot of side effects as well. Pain, redness, swelling, tiredness, headaches, muscle pain, chills, fever, nausea can all be side effects you should watch out for. As for effectiveness, the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two doses who had no evidence of being previously infected. Some groups of people are recommended to get the booster shot after it’s been 6 months since their second shot.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccine Type: mRNA
Manufacturer: Pfizer, Inc ., and BioNTech
Number of Shots Required: 2 shots, 21 days apart
The Pfizer Vaccine is recommended for people 12 years and older. This makes this vaccine a good and only choice for teenagers and young adults. As expected, people with severe allergic reactions and people who experience severe side effects should seek immediate attention. Common side effects like pain, swelling, and redness are common in most people. This vaccine has received FDA approval on August 23, 2021 and was 95% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 in people who received two doses and had no evidence of being previously infected. It is also shown that this vaccine is effective against a large diverse group of people, including factors like race, sex, age, and ethnicity. You can get a booster shot if it has been at least 6 months after completing the primary shots.
Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine
Vaccine Type: Viral Vector
Manufacturer: Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson
Number of Shots Required: 1 shot
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is recommended for people 18 years and older. It is shot in the muscle of the upper arm. If you have severe allergic reactions to some of the ingredients in the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, such as polysorbate, do not get the vaccine. The J&J vaccine also contains a piece of a modified virus that is not the virus that causes Covid-19. This virus cannot reproduce itself and is harmless. Similar to other vaccines, common side effects include: pain, redness, swelling, fever, headache, tiredness, etc. These side effects are normal and they will go away in one or two days. The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine was 66.3% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection in people who received the vaccine and had no evidence of being previously infected. It is important to note that about 7 out of 1 million vaccinated experienced blood clots with low platelets after taking the vaccine. It is recommended to get the booster shot after 2 months of receiving the vaccine.
