The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved COVID-19 vaccines. They come from two leading laboratories in the field – the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
Both vaccines use the same technology, known as mRNA, and teach your body to provide an adequate immune response to COVID-19 without using the live virus that causes it.
However, there are some significant differences between the two vaccines regarding their storage and the overall vaccination process logistics.
Storage temperature
- Pfizer-BioNTech – has to be stored in less than -94o F and can stay in a regular fridge for up to 5 days
- Moderna – Requires -4o F storage temperature and can remain in a standard fridge up to 30 days
Preparation
- Pfizer-BioNTech – requires dilution with salt water (saline)
- Moderna – ready-to-use
Vaccination age range
- Pfizer-BioNTech – 16 y.o. +
- Moderna – 18 y.o. +
Shots required
- Pfizer-BioNTech – 2 shots, 21 days apart
- Moderna – 2 shots, 28 days apart
Side effects
Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines demonstrate similar character and frequency of side effects. Those are pain at the injection site, followed by tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, and chills. Several patients reported severe allergic reactions. However, all of them had a history of allergies to certain components of the vaccine.
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