Three COVID-19 vaccines are currently approved by for distribution in the United States: Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen\/Johnson & Johnson.<\/p>\n
As distribution begins to open up across the state of Florida, it may lead many of us to wonder: Does it matter which vaccine I get?<\/p>\n
The short answer is no. They all prevent severe disease and death by teaching our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The short answer is no. They all prevent severe disease and death by teaching our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stresses that COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help us get back to normal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order for us to regain normalcy we need to achieve what is called \u2018herd immunity\u2019 \u201d says Jane Gibson, chair of clinical sciences and professor of pathology at UCF\u2019s College of Medicine. \u201cHerd immunity means that the chances of the disease spreading among individuals is lowered because the majority of the population \u2014 in this case estimated to be approximately 70-80% \u2014 will have antibodies. You can achieve herd immunity naturally, which may involve more rounds of infection surges and many more deaths, or we can achieve it through vaccination, which is why getting any one of these three vaccines is critical.\u201d<\/p>\n
How does the Janseen\/Johnson & Johnson vaccine differ from the Pfzier and Moderna vaccines?<\/h2>\n
The CDC explains typically, most vaccines \u2014 like the Janseen\/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine \u2014 use weakened or inactivated versions or components of the disease-causing pathogen to stimulate the body\u2019s immune response to create antibodies. In contrast, mRNA vaccines \u2014 like Pfzier and Moderna\u2019s COVID-19 vaccines \u2014 take advantage of the process that cells use to make proteins in order to trigger an immune response and build immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. Although this technology is new, mRNA vaccines have been studied for more than a decade. Like all vaccines, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have been rigorously tested for safety before being authorized for use in the United States.<\/p>\n
How are each of the vaccines administered?<\/h2>\n
Pfzier: 2 shots, 21 days apart<\/p>\n
Moderna: 2 shots, 28 days apart<\/p>\n
Janssen \/ Johnson & Johnson: 1 shot<\/p>\n
Why the difference in number of shots or number of days in between? The dosages and schedule are derived from the clinical trial process.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose studies informed the dosing regimens which were used in the initial clinical trials and may differ among vaccines based on their efficacy in animals and performance in laboratory studies to determine if the vaccine produced neutralizing antibodies,\u201d Gibson says. “Future clinical trials with these vaccines may offer additional modifications to dosing recommendations based on larger pool of data researchers are tracking as the vaccines are more widely distributed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is one vaccine more effective than another?<\/h2>\n
Pfizer: 95% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those without prior infection.<\/p>\n
Moderna: 94.1% effective at preventing symptomatic infection in people with no evidence of previous COVID-19 infection.<\/p>\n
Janssen\/Johnson & Johnson: 72% overall efficacy and 86% efficacy against severe disease in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Of note, mRNA trials were held and the efficacies of Pfizer and Moderna\u2019s vaccines were reported before more contagious variants of the virus began to spread.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough there have been no head-to-head trials to compare the vaccines to each other, the reported efficacies of each of the COVID vaccines determined during clinical trials appear to be better than recent flu vaccines,\u201d Gibson says. \u201cFor example, as cited in the 2021 CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the current influenza vaccine has been 45% effective overall against 2019-20 seasonal influenza A and B viruses.\u201d<\/p>\n