The Big 3

 The Big 3 (Vaccines)

So it's finally time for you to do your part for herd immunity and get the COVID-19 Vaccine!

Some of your friends got Moderna, some got Pfizer, and you've heard more recently about people getting Johnson & Johnson. 

But what's the difference? 

Although you may not be able to choose which vaccine you will get, knowledge is power, and it's helpful to know the key differences between each of the vaccines that are currently being distributed in the United States. 

Pfizer-BioNTech

Status: FDA approved for emergency use in the U.S.

Who can get it: Anyone 16 +

Dosage: 2 shots given 21 days apart

Common side effects: Chills, headache, pain, tiredness, and/or redness and swelling at the injection site. 

Efficacy rate: 95% successful in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection.

The science behind it:  It is a messenger RNA vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine works by delivering a very small piece of genetic code from the SARS CoV-2 virus to cells in the body. This provides the host cells with instructions for making copies of the spike proteins found on coronavirus. An immune response is stimulated, meaning antibodies are produced and memory cells are developed that will recognize and respond if the body is infected with the actual virus. 

Moderna

Status: FDA approved for emergency use in the U.S.

Who can get it: Adults 18 +

Dosage: 2 shots given 28 days apart

Common side effects: Chills, headache, pain, tiredness, and/or redness and swelling at the injection site. 

Efficacy rate: 94.1% successful in preventing symptomatic infection in those without prior infection.

The science behind it:  It is a messenger RNA vaccine. The Moderna works the same as the Pfizer vaccine, by delivering a blueprint for making a spike protein to prepare the immune system for an actual infection. If it comes into contact with the coronavirus, the immune system will recognize it and attack the spike protein. 

Johnson & Johnson

Status: FDA approved for emergency use in the U.S.

Who can get it: Adults 18 +

Dosage: 1 shot

Common side effects: Fatigue, fever, headache, pain at the injection site, muscle pain

Efficacy rate: 72% overall success in preventing symptomatic infection in those without prior infection.

The science behind it:  It is a carrier vaccine. It works as a trjan horse, using a harmless adenovirus as a shell to carry the spike protein's genetic code to the cells. The cells produce a spike protein to train the body's immune system. The antibodies and memory cells created will protect the body against actual infection. 

As of April 11, 2021, over 72 million Americans are fully vaccinated. If you are eligible, take this information, get the vaccine, and join the movement towards herd immunity!

**Vaccine information came from YaleMedicine**