mRNA vaccines train our immune systems to produce a protein. This triggers a defensive response to the COVID-19 virus. The idea emerged in 1993, although the U.S. only launched a biotech program to carry it forward in 2010. The coronavirus pandemic accelerated the process resulting in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. However, it will be a while before we can compare their mRNA vaccine effectiveness accurately.
Which mRNA Product is Better – Pfizer or Moderna Vaccine
Both vaccines are very good and produce similar, top-end results. However, Pfizer has become slightly more popular in the public mind. Perhaps that’s because Moderna scores slightly lower in terms of very occasional, but serious side effects.
Both products provide recipients a far better chance of surviving the pandemic, compared to refusing to have them. However, a recent CDC study – see link below – suggests Moderna is proving more effective for all age group against serious symptoms.
Moderna mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness Greater Across Age Groups
Caitlin Owens suggested two reasons for this in a Yahoo News post dated September 15, 2021. In the first instance, Moderna has a much higher dosing regimen, meaning more product in each dose. And secondly, the minimum interval for the second Moderna shot is 28 days, compared to Pfizer’s 21.
However, Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccine effectiveness is similar when we take a broader view. ‘Both vaccines are nearly equal in their capacity to do what a vaccine needs to do,’ says Paul Offit. ‘This is protect against severe illness,’ the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia explains.
Natalie Dean is a specialist in vaccine design. She believes it’s too early to tell which mRNA vaccine performs better in the field. Eric Topol from Scripps Research says there are signs Moderna effectiveness also fades over time. ‘It just may be longer and it may be less,’ he speculates.
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