COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccines at a glance Moderna Pfizer-BioNTech AstraZeneca (COVISHIELD) Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) Type of vaccine mRNA mRNA Viral vector Viral vector Approved age group 18+ 12+ 18+ 18+ Effectiveness 94.1% 95-100% 62% 66% Common side-effects Include pain at the injection site, chills, feeling tired or feverish Rare side-effects Allergic reaction Allergic reaction Allergic reaction Blood clots Allergic reaction Blood clots Can mRNA vaccines alter my DNA? No. Your DNA is in the nucleus of your cells, and the mRNA vaccine never enters the nucleus. After a cell finishes using mRNA instructions to create the protein, the cell breaks down the instructions and gets rid of the mRNA. When does my vaccine become effective? How long do I have to wait? For the two-dose vaccines, immunity begins about two weeks after the first dose.The second dose boosts your immune response even more. After I’m vaccinated, how long will my protection against COVID-19 last? This question is still being researched. We don’t yet have the answer. Why are the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines so much more effective than the AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines? Does it have something to do with Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech being mRNA vaccines? While it’s true that Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech claim efficacy rates about 30% higher than the other vaccines, it’s important to take these figures with a grain of salt. The vaccines were tested in separate clinical trials under different conditions, which might account for the difference in effectiveness. Another thing to consider is what the efficacy rates from the clinical trials are measuring. The investigators were assessing whether or not the vaccines protected against any COVID-19 infections (evenmild ones). What is most important, however, is preventing risk of serious illness. The vaccines are all nearly 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 that is severe enough to require hospitalization. CSANews | SUMMER 2021 | 41
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