We are now blessed with not one but two Covid vaccines approved by the FDA. The first was produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and the second by Moderna. How do they compare? Helen Branswell gives us this comparison in Health:

Target Population

The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for use in people aged 16 years and older. The Moderna vaccine is authorized for use in people aged 18 years and older. Currently, Moderna is being tested in 12 to 17-year-olds.

Vaccine Efficacy

The Pfizer vaccine showed 95% efficacy seven days after the second dose. There were no differences in protection across age groups and racial and ethnic groups. The Moderna vaccine showed 94.1% efficacy fourteen days after the second dose. It is also equally effective across age, racial and ethnic groups.

Number of doses/Amount of vaccine

Both vaccines require two doses for effectiveness. The second, or booster dose, is given in 21 days for the Pfizer vaccine and in 28 days for the Moderna vaccine. The Pfizer dosage is 30 micrograms and the Moderna dosage is 100 micrograms. This may result in slightly more discomfort at the injection site for the Moderna vaccine.

Side Effects

Both vaccines are considered reactogenic. That means they may trigger a range of transient effects in a significant number of recipients. The most common side effects are injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain. A few have reported fever. Side effects are more likely after the second dose. Young people have reported more side effects than older adults, possibly because their immune systems mount more robust responses. A very small number (six) of strong allergic responses have been reported with the Pfizer vaccines that were not seen at all in the trials. None have been reported yet with the Moderna vaccine.

Safety for Pregnancy

Neither vaccine has been tested in this population group. However, both vaccines report no complications in pregnant animal studies.

Storage Requirements

This is perhaps the most significant difference between the two vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine requires storage at -94 degrees Fahrenheit. This means ultra-cold storage freezers that must be topped out with dry ice every five days. This makes it impractical for doctors’ offices. The Moderna vaccine requires storage at -4 degrees Fahrenheit, suitable for a regular refrigerator freezer. This makes it suitable for doctor’s offices and neighborhood pharmacies.

Minimum Purchase Order

Pfizer requires a minimum purchase order of 975 doses. This makes it suitable for large teaching hospitals, but possibly not for small institutions. The Moderna vaccine requires a minimum purchase order of 100 doses, making it more suitable for doctors’ offices and pharmacies.

There you have it, two effective vaccines with minimal side effects. Both will require two doses but both will provide excellent protection against the Covid virus. The Moderna has some advantages in storage, shipping, and distribution, making it more suitable for doctors’ offices and pharmacies. The Pfizer vaccine will probably be limited to large institutions.

It doesn’t really matter which vaccine you take; just take the vaccine!

With a third vaccine just released in the United Kingdom by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, you’d think everyone would be all smiles. Yet a new wave of panic is sweeping across the U.K. and Europe as we speak. What is that all about?

A new Covid variant has been discovered in the U.K. and other parts of Europe. The new variant is known as B.1.1.7 and was first identified in December in the U.K. This prompted a new wave of travel restrictions and widespread lockdowns. The U.K. variant has since been discovered in isolated cases in Colorado, California, Florida, and even China.

The Wall Street Journal reports in South Africa, doctors and researchers are studying another new variant and what role it plays in the rising number of cases there. This variant, known as B.1.351 was actually first discovered in October and hasn’t been detected in the U.S.

All this is great news for the media that loves to spread fear. You know the old saying, “If it bleeds, it leads!” But should we really be worried? What impact, if any, will these new variants have on us and the new vaccines?

What is a viral variant?

New versions of viruses arise as a result of small changes in the viral genetic code. This is an attempt by the virus to remain viable in the face of environmental changes such as the development of vaccines and herd immunity. Those changes that enable the virus to spread more efficiently become more prevalent while other changes disappear. This is expected.

Should we be concerned?

Some doctors worry that these changes will enable the virus to spread more easily and increase the stress on hospitals and nursing homes. Yet preliminary data suggest that the new variants are no more likely to cause severe illness than the more familiar strains. There is some evidence from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to suggest the new variant may be more transmissible than previous variants. This could lead to wider spread of the virus.

Do existing vaccines work against the new variants?

Scientists believe the existing vaccines of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and AstroZeneca will all be effective against the original and new variant strains of the Covid virus. The mutations “raise some questions about vaccine efficacy, but it’s important to note that the vaccines elicit a broad immune response. . . that targets several areas of the spike protein,” said Dr. Richard Lessells, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa, and a member of the team that discovered the South African variant.

Pfizer and Moderna have conducted lab tests of their vaccines against several versions of the coronavirus and found that the vaccines were effective against all, according to the drug makers. The companies said they were conducting experiments to determine whether antibodies generated by people vaccinated were effective against the U.K. and South Africa variants.

The CDC urges people who are eligible to get the vaccination shots. “Based on studies with other viruses containing similar mutations, CDC believes there will be little or no impact on immunity from natural infection or vaccination,” the agency said in a statement this week.

My advice: take the vaccine and stop worrying. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 7:27)