Today, I received my first injection of a two-part series of a vaccine that was developed to inoculate people against COVID-19 and COVID-19 variants.
As of today there are three main vaccines that are approved for use in the United States. When I say approved, these vaccines have NOT yet been FDA approved, but have been approved under what is referred to as an "EUA" or "emergency use authorization." Many people are asking which one is best...which one they should be getting...and what the true differences in the vaccines are for the individuals that are vaccinated. These are all great questions. From what we know right now at the beginning of March 2021 here is a general breakdown:
The three vaccines in distribution are differentiated by their manufacturing company. These companies are:
1) Moderna
2) Pfizer
3) Johnson & Johnson
There are two main ways these vaccines vary from one another: the first is how they vary in access to the public and the second is what benefits they give to an inoculated individual.
I think it is important to start with accessibility before jumping headfirst into the benefits as access has a much wider disparity than the protection we gain from these vaccines.
Differences in Vaccine Production/Access
First, let's look at Moderna. This vaccine is great once it has been produced. It does not require exceptional temperatures or other complex storage protocols. However, the company making this vaccine is not nearly as big a company as either Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson and certainly was not initially outfitted to be mass producing vaccines for the public. This means that it has been harder to produce this vaccine, but once produced it is easy to store, ship, and use in the general public. Thankfully many people and companies have bolstered Moderna's efforts and more of this vaccine is being produced than at the beginning of the vaccine rollout.
Next, let's consider Pfizer. This is the vaccine that I received. It is great once it arrives at the location where it will be distributed as long as there is a strict chain of command for storing it until use. Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines need to be kept at a temperature of roughly -80 to -60 degrees celsius. That is really, really cold. When we think of the capacity of pharmacies who are vaccinating people or pop-up clinics, it makes this vaccine a little less likely to be a good option. However, Pfizer was off to the races in terms of production and has been able to make a lot of vaccines in a short amount of time due to the initial size of the company. As more facilities are receiving proper storage units for this intense temperature need, Pfizer will continue to be a major player in the vaccine rollout.
Last, Johnson & Johnson. This vaccine was just added to the list of specials this week. It it similar to Moderna in that it needs less aggressive measures for storage, and similar to Pfizer in that it comes from a company that is more easily able to mass produce it.
Differences in Vaccine Benefits
Now that we have gone over the basics in regard to how these vaccines are being rolled out, let's discuss the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of these three vaccines. The two "original" vaccines that we as layfolk have been hearing about since the end of 2020 are Pfizer and Moderna. In repeated, peer reviewed studies these two vaccines both demonstrate between 50-60% efficacy in preventing an individual from contracting COVID-19 after the first dose. This number jumps to 90-95% efficacy in preventing an individual from contracting COVID-19 two weeks after the second dose or "booster" dose.
Given that the average flu vaccine that most of us receive every year to prevent the likely strains and variants of influenza in any particular year hovers just over 50%, these numbers are truly astounding and can give us confidence in going about our everyday lives.
The newest vaccine, Johnson & Johnson, has a lower efficacy rate in preventing an individuals from contracting COVID-19, but provides secondary benefits that are not as well studied in the first two vaccines. Johnson & Johnson consistently has had an efficacy rate of 65% or higher in preventing contraction of COVID-19, but perhaps even more importantly it has a secondary super power that Pfizer and Moderna are less sure about with their vaccines. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has repeatedly shown to minimize the symptoms of COVID-19 in the majority of people who have had the vaccine, but still catch COVID-19. It reduces the chances of being hospitalized and definitely of mortality as a result of COVID-19. Essentially, it takes the "deadly" out of "deadly virus" and just leaves you with a "virus" that most of our bodies can shake off more effectively. This is so important especially given how many variants of the disease there already are just a year after the first strain was detected.
Oh, and the last big pro about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? It only requires one dose while both Moderna and Pfizer are two-dose series vaccines.
Takeaways
In terms of which vaccine is best for you: whichever one is available when your number is called and at your vaccine distribution center. Access to vaccines in the United States is still not good. There is much more demand than supply and if we are truly working toward a day of "herd immunity" we all need to roll our sleeves up and get vaccinated as quickly as possible. All three of these are exceptionally good vaccines and protect against contracting COVID-19 as well as getting really sick if you do catch it. The science is still evolving, as is the virus, every day. For this reason it is important that we continue to do the things we started doing at the beginning of this pandemic: maintain distance from people not in your "bubble," wash your hands thoroughly even if you need to carry extra lotion around in your pocket or purse to protect your skin, and please...wear your mask or face covering.
You will notice none of these vaccines are perfect. That is because they are vaccines based on the best information we have that is rapidly evolving and science is not perfect. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that our understanding of it is not perfect. But it is good and it is more than good enough.
If you have questions about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in your area, reach out to your local or state health department. We are all in this together and that gives me all the hope I need to know we can beat this the way that other in history have beaten polio, measles, or mumps...we just have to keep working together, acknowledging our feelings, and rolling up that sleeve.
People are good, people.
Prepare, don't panic,
-Allison
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