Home Health TopicsCOVID-19 Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine 101: Important Facts

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine 101: Important Facts

by Gauri Kolhe

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was authorized under the emergency use authorization (EUA) by food and drug administration (FDA). This moderna covid-19 vaccine was approved for the people of 18 or older.

Moderna vaccine is a type of mRNA vaccine and second vaccine that was approved for the use to prevent covid-19.

Moderna covid-19 vaccine was compared with Pfizer vaccine. As a result it has been found to be safe for use and potentially effective. There are some important facts about moderna covid-19 vaccine you need to know are listed below.

Intro of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is mRNA vaccine and prepared for the use to prevent corona virus disease (covid-19). SARS-Co-V 2 virus is the cause of Covid 19 disease that causes serious illness. This virus infects respiratory tract results difficulty in breathing follows death ultimately.

Moderna vaccine mRNA vaccine and contain the mRNA that present on the surface of corona virus. mRNA produce spike protein and recognized as invader by immune system.

As a result Immune system starts to produce antibodies against the corona virus.  This is not a live virus vaccine. This vaccine has given in two doses, a different of 28 days between doses.

Moderna vaccine seems to have minimal side effects but experienced side effects are drastically less severe than the covid-19infection.

Mechanism

Moderna vaccine

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine contains mRNA that is responsible for the production of spike protein. mRNA type vaccine contains a piece of genetic code of SARS-Co-V-2 virus.

When vaccine injected in the body the genetic code delivered to the host cells and this gives the instruction to produce multiple copies of spike protein.

Spike protein work as invader and start to give an immune response to your immune system that results production of antibodies. After getting vaccinated if you come in the contact of corona virus, your immune system recognizes it and fight back.   

mRNA do not enter in nucleus of cell and do not interfere with the DNA, mRNA also destroys within 24 hours so there is no chance that covid-19 makes any changes in your DNA.

mRNA technique of vaccine development has been used by the scientist for over 10 years with other disease such as flu, rabies.            

Pros and cons

All three vaccines that approved to use in United States have effective, safe and carry a far fewer risk of covid-19. Moderna vaccine has some of the pros and cons that makes different from others. Here are some pros and cons of moderna vaccine are following:

Pros

  • Moderna vaccine has higher efficacy rate.
  • It has minimal risk of side effects and other complications.

Cons 

  • Moderna vaccine need two dosed to be fully effective.
  • In some cases people may experience significant side in comparison to others.

Risk of blood clots from Moderna Vaccine

If you are wondering that the use of moderna vaccine develops the risk of blood clot than answer is completely no. according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 180 million doses of Pfizer or moderna do not reported any case of blood clots.

While in case of other covid-19 vaccine of Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, very few people experiences blood clot.

In a study it has been seen that the risk of blood clot in brain is about 100 times higher in the people who suffered with covid-19 in comparison of people without covid-19.

About 5 people in 1 million people who get AstraZeneca vaccine experience blood clot thus AstraZeneca vaccine isn’t approved in United States.

Covid-19 vaccine: Complications

Even though covid-1 vaccine is safe, some of the people shown some adverse effects. Severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis on first dose is common complication arises from the covid-19 vaccine. If you feel something like that, concern your doctor and seek help from them.

Signs of allergic reaction

Although covid-19 vaccines are safe they may show some minor allergic reaction. They could be mild and severe allergic reactions. Generally allergic reactions happen within 4 hours of getting a shot. The symptoms of allergic reaction include:

  • Wheezing or trouble breathing
  • Swelling
  • Hives

After getting shot, some of the people will go to have a rash at the site of administration hence known as covid arm. You still have to go for second dose.    

In some people blood clot also is seen. Symptoms of blood clot includes following:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Sudden severe headache
  • Swelling in leg
  • Chest pain
  • Abdominal pain

Comparison of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine with others

Moderna vaccine is safe for use which makes this reliable and also there are many vaccines available in the market. Many similarities   and difference has been seen between the moderna covid-19 vaccine and others. Information about them helps you to choose better option.       

How is the Moderna vaccine like the Pfizer vaccine?

On comparison with Pfizer vaccine, moderna vaccine seems similar as both of the vaccines are mRNA type of vaccine and contains mRNA. Mechanism of working is also similar as they use same process for building immunity.  

Both of the vaccines need two doses to be fully effective. Pfizer vaccine given after 21 days of first dose and moderna vaccine second dose given after 28 days.           

How is the Moderna vaccine different from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?

Moderna vaccine if sound different from Johnson & Johnson vaccine as Johnson and Johnson vaccine  is a carrier or virus vector vaccine while moderna vaccine is mRNA vaccine. A carrier type vaccine carry harmless virus in order to carry genetic code to the cells.

When vaccine injected, the genetic code go into the cell and start to produce spike protein. Spike protein makes immune system to produce antibodies against specific virus.                  

To be fully effective Johnson and Johnson vaccine need only one dose while the Moderna vaccine requires two doses.     

Efficacy of moderna covid-19 vaccine Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Moderna covid vaccine has been found to be effective by a percentage of 94.1% when it comes to prevent infections in people who had no symptoms of previous covid-19 infection. The efficacy of moderna vaccine in people of ages 65 and older was found 86.5 percent.  

In actual getting both doses of vaccine provide protection about 90 percent effective.  Hence you need to get both doses to get more effectiveness.

As there are different variants of covid-19 virus are there, moderna vaccine may be effective against variant of SARS-CO-V-19 found in United States and South Africa. Further advance research is needed.          

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