What are the options?
The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have already been approved for emergency use by the FDA. AstraZeneca is expected to apply for an emergency use permit in the coming weeks.
Which vaccines need one dose and which ones need two doses?
Johnson & Johnson is the only one-time vaccine. The others all require two doses at different time intervals. Pfizer suggests the two doses be administered three weeks apart, Moderna suggests four weeks, and AstraZeneca suggests four to 12 weeks.
How effective are the vaccines?
In a clinical trial, Pfizer says its vaccine was 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 cases with symptoms and was 100% effective in preventing severe cases. Moderna reported similar results, with an efficacy of 94%.
Johnson & Johnson found that its vaccine, which was tested in the US amid a greater increase in COVID-19 transmission, was 72% effective overall and 86% effective in preventing serious illness.
The most recent US study shows that AstraZeneca’s vaccine was 79% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 cases and was 100% effective in stopping severe cases and hospitalization.
Which vaccine is the most effective?
A word of caution before comparing the above efficacy rates side by side: the clinical studies of the vaccine were conducted under different conditions, which could produce different results. For example, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was tested in an environment where many more COVID-19 variants were in circulation and at a time when cases were booming. The “best” vaccine is the one that you are being offered, 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 are receiving the injection
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
Concerns about blood clots prompted several European countries to discontinue use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the European Medicines Agency concluded after investigations that the vaccine did not increase the overall risk of blood clots, but could not rule out that it was linked to two very rare types of blood 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 US?
According to the CDC, the US has received approximately 77 million Pfizer doses, 75 million Moderna doses and 4 million J&J doses at the time of publication. Remember: The J&J vaccine only requires one dose, but it takes two doses of Pfizer or Moderna to completely vaccinate one person.
Can I choose which vaccine I receive?
At the moment no. If the supply becomes large enough, it is possible that choices will be made.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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