What is the options?
The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have already been authorized for emergency use by the FDA. AstraZeneca is expected to request an emergency use authorization in the coming weeks.
Which vaccines require one dose and which vaccines require two doses?
Johnson & Johnson is the only single injection vaccine. All others require two doses at different time intervals. Pfizer suggests that the two doses should be administered every three weeks, Moderna suggests four weeks and AstraZeneca suggests an interval of four to 12 weeks.
How effective are vaccines?
In a clinical trial, Pfizer claims that its vaccine was 95% effective in preventing cases of COVID-19 with symptoms and 100% effective in preventing severe cases. Moderna cited similar results, with 94% effectiveness.
Johnson & Johnson found that its vaccine, which was tested in the United States amid a huge increase in transmission of COVID-19, was 72% effective overall and 86% effective in preventing serious illnesses.
The most recent trial in the USA shows that the AstraZeneca vaccine was 79% effective in preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19 and was 100% effective in preventing severe cases and hospitalization.
Which vaccine is most effective?
A word of caution before comparing the above efficacy rates side by side: clinical trials of the vaccine were done under different conditions, which could produce different results. For example, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was tested in an environment with many more COVID-19 variants circulating and during a period when cases were increasing. The “best” vaccine is the one that is offered to you, doctors continue to remind the public.
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What are the side effects of each vaccine?
All three approved vaccines have the same common side effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control:
- Pain, redness and / or swelling in the arm where you gave the injection
- Tiredness
- Headaches
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
Concern about blood clots has led several European countries to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the European Medicines Agency concluded, after an investigation, that the vaccine did not increase the overall risk of blood clots, but it could not exclude that it was linked to two very rare types of clots.
In the most recent US study of 20,000 people, experts found no increased risk of blood clots.
Which vaccines are most common in the USA?
According to the CDC, the US received about 77 million doses of Pfizer, 75 million doses of Moderna and 4 million doses of J&J at the time of publication. Remember: the J&J vaccine requires only one dose, but two doses of Pfizer or Moderna are required to fully vaccinate a person.
Can I choose the vaccine I receive?
At this point, no. It is possible that choices will come over time, if the supply grows enough.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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