Are the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines the same?

Moderna uses the same mRNA technology as Pfizer-BioNTech and had a similarly high efficacy at preventing symptomatic disease when the companies applied for authorization; it also needs to be stored in freezer-level temperatures.

Can you mix and match the vaccines for your mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) primary vaccination series?

No, vaccines used for the primary vaccination series should be same. However, if the mRNA vaccine product given for the first two doses is not available or is unknown, either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) may be administered.

Who makes Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine?

Manufacturer: ModernaTX, Inc.

Is it safe to take the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or J&J COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy?

No safety concerns were found in animal studies: Studies in animals receiving a Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy found no safety concerns in pregnant animals or their babies.

How long does the protection from Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 booster vaccine last?

The most recent research from the CDC suggests that protection from the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines starts to fade around 4 months after a booster dose.

New Study: Moderna VS. Pfizer Vs. Novavax vs. Johnson

What is the duration of protection against COVID-19 when vaccinated?

Studies of the duration of protection of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness indicate that vaccine effectiveness decreases more against infection and symptomatic disease than against severe disease in the 6 months after full vaccination.

How long do COVID-19 vaccines last?

It is normal for virus-fighting antibodies—such as those that are stimulated by a COVID-19 vaccine—to wane over time. Monitoring antibody levels in the blood is one way to measure vaccine efficacy and research has found that protection remains high for six months after the second shot of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for pregnancy?

Vaccination is recommended for pregnant women to prevent COVID-19, including severe illness and death. COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective when administered during pregnancy

Can you have the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if pregnant?

Data have clearly shown that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy reduces the risk for infection, severe illness and death from COVID-19 among people who are pregnant.

What can you tell us about pregnancy after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 shot?

What can you tell us about that? Results from published studies suggest there is no increased risk of first trimester pregnancy loss for patients who receive any of the three vaccines that currently have emergency use authorization: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson-Janssen.

Who developed the mRNA technology for the COVID-19 vaccine?

Two Penn researchers, Katalin Karikó, PhD, and Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, invented messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that serves as the foundation of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

Can you mix and match Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine?

Through the FDA's authorization and the CDC's recommendation, heterologous boosting—aka “mixing and matching”—is allowed with a single dose of any of the authorized COVID-19 vaccine boosters. For example, those who got Johnson & Johnson's one-dose series can receive a booster shot from Moderna or Pfizer

How does the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine work?

The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine also contains a piece of a modified virus that is not the virus that causes COVID-19. This modified virus is called the vector virus. The vector virus cannot reproduce itself, so it is harmless. This vector virus gives instructions to cells in the body to create an immune response.

Can you mix and match COVID-19 booster shots?

The FDA has authorized the use of mix-and-match booster doses for currently available COVID-19 vaccines based on the results of a NIAID-supported study.

Can I choose which COVID-19 vaccine I get?

Yes, depending on your age, you can choose which COVID-19 vaccine to get. For adults ages 18 years and older, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) are preferred over Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine. You may get J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in some situations.

Currently, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine available to children ages 5 through 17 years old.

Learn more about your COVID-19 vaccination, including how to find a vaccination location, what to expect at your appointment, and more.

Are egg products used in COVID-19 vaccines?

The COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized by the FDA are not manufactured using egg products or egg culture. See COVID-19 vaccines for more information.

Can mRNA-vaccinated mothers pass COVID-19 antibodies to babies?

Breastfeeding babies safely receive COVID-19-neutralizing antibodies from their mRNA-vaccinated mothers. COVID-19 vaccination is approved for children 5 years and older, but younger children and babies are also susceptible to infection.

Has the COVID-19 vaccine been tested on pregnant women?

Evidence continues to build showing that COVID-19 vaccination before and during pregnancy is safe and effective.

What are some of the risks of having COVID-19 while pregnant?

Effect on Pregnancy Outcomes. For example, COVID-19 during pregnancy increases the risk of delivering a preterm (earlier than 37 weeks) or stillborn infant. People with COVID-19 during pregnancy may also be more likely to have other pregnancy complications.

Does COVID-19 increase the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester?

Based on the evidence presented here, women who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 in their first trimester may be at an increased risk of a miscarriage. However, the overall rate of miscarriage in our study population was 8%.

What are some of the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine in women?

COVID-19 vaccines can cause swelling in your lymph nodes or arm. Women who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can develop enlarged underarm lymph nodes on the same side where they had the shot. It's more common for this to happen after boosters and additional doses.

Are pregnant women at increased risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19?

Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe COVID-19–related illness, and COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal and neonatal complications (1–3).

What's the efficacy of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine after 90 days?

Among adults who received 2 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection increased gradually after 90 days, according to results of a study published in BMJ.

How many times can I get COVID-19?

'A long-term pattern' According to some infectious disease researchers, Covid-19 reinfections are likely to become more common as time goes on and different variants continue to circulate—with some people potentially seeing third or fourth reinfections within a year.

What is the duration of natural immunity to COVID-19?

Natural immunity can decay within about 90 days. Immunity from COVID-19 vaccines has been shown to last longer. Both Pfizer and Moderna reported strong vaccine protection for at least six months. Studies are ongoing to evaluate the full duration of protective immunity, including the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.