Comparing the differences between COVID-19 vaccines

By Mayo Clinic Staff

November 07, 2023

See the different COVID-19 vaccines:

Type

PfizerType

mRNA vaccine

Moderna Type

mRNA vaccine

Effectiveness

Pfizer Effectiveness

Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death.

Moderna Effectiveness

Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death.

Novavax Effectiveness

Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death.

Doses

Pfizer Doses

2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: 3 doses

6 months to 4 years, one or more shots of previous formulas: 1 or 2 doses

5 years to 11 years: 1 dose

Children ages 6 months through 11 years with weakened immune systems are recommended to get at least 3 doses. One is recommended to be the updated 2023-2024 formula.

Comirnaty

People age 12 and older: 1 dose

People age 12 years and older who have weakened immune systems are recommended to get at least 3 doses.

Moderna Doses

2023-2024 Moderna vaccine

6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: 2 doses

6 months to 4 years, one or more shots of previous formulas: 1 dose

5 years to 11 years: 1 dose

Children ages 6 months through 11 years with weakened immune systems are recommended to get at least 3 doses. One is recommended to be the updated 2023-2024 formula.

Spikevax

People age 12 and older: 1 dose

People age 12 years and older who have weakened immune systems are recommended to get at least 3 doses.

Novavax Doses

6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: Not authorized or approved for use.

6 months to 4 years, one or more shots of previous formulas: Not authorized or approved for use.

5 years to 11 years: Not authorized or approved for use.

Novavax is not authorized or approved for use by children ages 6 months through 11 years with weakened immune systems.

People age 12 and older: 2 doses

People age 12 years and older who have weakened immune systems are recommended to get 1 or 2 doses, depending on vaccination history.

Side effects

Pfizer Side effects

Pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, fever, feeling unwell and swollen lymph nodes.

Children may have irritability, poor feeding, lack of energy, vomiting or belly pain among other symptoms.

Rare cases of serious allergic reaction minutes to hours after shot.

Rare cases of heart problems in the two weeks after vaccination. Get medical care if chest pain, shortness of breath or if the heartbeat feels fluttery, fast or pounding after getting the vaccine.

Moderna Side effects

Pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, fever, feeling unwell, and swollen lymph nodes.

Children may have irritability, poor feeding, lack of energy, vomiting or belly pain among other symptoms.

Rare cases of serious allergic reaction minutes to hours after shot.

Rare cases of heart problems in the two weeks after vaccination. Get medical care if chest pain, shortness of breath or if the heartbeat feels fluttery, fast or pounding after getting the vaccine.

Novavax Side effects

Pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, fever, feeling unwell, and swollen lymph nodes.

Rare cases of serious allergic reaction minutes to hours after shot.

Rare cases of heart problems in the 10 days after vaccination. Get medical care if chest pain, shortness of breath or if the heartbeat feels fluttery, fast or pounding after getting the vaccine.

Ingredients

Pfizer Ingredients

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Fats to help the mRNA

Sugar to keep the vaccine stable

Acidic ingredients to keep the vaccine stable

Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex in the vial stoppers.

Moderna Ingredients

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Fats to help the mRNA

Sugar to keep the vaccine stable

Acidic ingredients to keep the vaccine stable

Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex in the vial stoppers.

Novavax Ingredients

Protein to cause immune response

Fats to help the protein

Salts to keep the vaccine stable

Sugar to keep the vaccine stable

Acidic ingredients to keep the vaccine stable

Herbal fraction to boost immune response

Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex in the vial stoppers.

Approval, authorization and safety

Pfizer Approval, authorization and safety

2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for people ages 6 months through 11 years.

Comirnaty is approved for people age 12 and older.

The vaccines that help protect against COVID-19 are safe and effective based on clinical trials and continued monitoring.

Moderna Approval, authorization and safety

2023-2024 Moderna vaccine is authorized for people ages 6 months through 11 years.

Spikevax is approved for people age 12 and older.

The vaccines that help protect against COVID-19 are safe and effective based on clinical trials and continued monitoring.

Novavax Approval, authorization and safety

Novavax is authorized for people age 12 and older.

The vaccines that help protect against COVID-19 are safe and effective based on clinical trials and continued monitoring.

Eligibility

Pfizer Eligibility

People age 6 months and older can get the vaccine.

People who've had a severe allergic reaction to any of the vaccine's ingredients or after a prior dose of a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shouldn't get the vaccine.

Moderna Eligibility

People age 6 months and older can get the vaccine.

People who've had a severe allergic reaction to any of the vaccine's ingredients or after a prior dose of a Moderna vaccine shouldn't get the vaccine.

Novavax Eligibility

People age 12 and older can get the vaccine.

People who've had an immediate allergic reaction to the vaccine or a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine shouldn't get the vaccine.

Cost

Pfizer Cost

In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines may be offered at no cost through insurance coverage.

People younger than 18 years old can get no-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.

Adults can get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through the Bridges to Access program.

Moderna Cost

In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines may be offered at no cost through insurance coverage.

People younger than 18 years old can get no-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.

Adults can get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through the Bridges to Access program.

Novavax Cost

In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines may be offered at no cost through insurance coverage.

People younger than 18 years old can get no-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.

Adults can get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through the Bridges to Access program.

Existing health conditions

Pfizer Existing health conditions

You can get a vaccine if you have an existing health condition, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have existing health conditions, take medications, or you're pregnant, and you have questions about the vaccine, talk to your healthcare team.

If you have any other questions or concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare team.

Moderna Existing health conditions

You can get a vaccine if you have an existing health condition, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have existing health conditions, take medications, or you're pregnant, and you have questions about the vaccine, talk to your healthcare team.

If you have any other questions or concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare team.

Novavax Existing health conditions

You can get a vaccine if you have an existing health condition, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have existing health conditions, take medications, or you're pregnant, and you have questions about the vaccine, talk to your healthcare team.

If you have any other questions or concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare team.

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