The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been the protagonists of the vaccination campaign since it reached the population under 40 years of age. In fact, they are the only sera approved in minors and the ones that are most advanced in their authorization as a third dose. Thus, it is appropriate to remember what effectiveness or side effects they have. The time between doses is 21 days for Pfizer and 28 for Moderna.
Effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, both messenger RNA-based, offer 100% effectiveness against developing severe disease. However, neither prevents infection. For this reason, those vaccinated must continue to respect prevention measures such as the safety distance or the mask.
Against the development of symptoms, Pfizer’s effectiveness is 95% and Moderna’s is 94.1%. However, this effectiveness drops to 88% for Pfizer, according to studies by Public Health England, compared to the Delta variant.
Effectiveness over time: Pfizer generates fewer antibodies than Moderna
Newly released research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in the United States has revealed that antibody levels in recipients of the Moderna vaccine were slightly higher than in recipients of Pfizer. The difference was mainly due to antibody levels in relatively older subjects.
The researchers caution against drawing conclusions about the effectiveness of vaccines based on the number of antibodies; as both vaccines have worked exceptionally well after being administered to millions of people around the world. The new results are just a small piece in a much larger puzzle, as scientists seek to determine whether a vaccine may be superior for certain demographics.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA to teach the immune system how to defend against the COVID spike protein. However, the formulations of each vaccine are slightly different, with Moderna using more mRNA than Pfizer. That led UVA scientists to look to quantify and compare the resulting antibody responses.
Side effects of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine
1. The most frequent and common. The seventh pharmacovigilance report of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) revealed the following adverse reactions: feverish state (37%), headache (27%), muscle pain (2o%), pain in the vaccination (14%), malaise (12%), nausea (8%), arthralgia (8%), chills (8%), fatigue (8%), lymphadenopathy (7%).
2. New or suspected side effects: during the application of the Pfizer vaccine in the general population, new side effects have been detected, some are already listed in the vaccine package insert and others are suspected:
– Skin rash and pruritus: Pfizer’s vaccine information sheet and package insert already contain skin rash and pruritus (skin itching), as uncommon adverse reactions (occurring in less than 1 in 100 people). For their part, urticaria (raised, red, itchy skin rash) and angioedema (rapid swelling under the skin) have been updated as adverse reactions that occur rarely (in less than 1 in 1,000 people).
– Localized swelling with Pfizer in people who have previously received injections of dermal fillers in the face: the EMA has also concluded that this effect may be related to the vaccine, so it will be included as a possible adverse reaction in the data sheet and the prospect.
– Myocarditis and pericarditis: The EMA has concluded that myocarditis and/or pericarditis may very rarely occur after administration of BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines.
Moderna Vaccine Side Effects
1. The most common side effects. The seventh AEMPS pharmacovigilance report revealed the following: feverish state (50%), headache (30%), muscle aches (25%), pain in the vaccination area (19%), chills (11%) , malaise (13%), nausea (9%), arthralgia (8%), asthenia (6%).
2. New or suspected side effects. The latest AEMPS report also reveals a series of new adverse reactions such as: diarrhea and immune thrombocytopenia, which produces bruising and bleeding. Another side effect, which is also included in the latest update of the Spanish vaccination strategy, is a series of late skin reactions near the injection site that occur about 7 days (between 2 and 12 days) after receiving the vaccine. Likewise, the EMA has also collected myocarditis and pericarditis.
Facebook Comments
Disqus