Comparing the differences between COVID-19 vaccines
By Mayo Clinic Staff
September 16, 2024
See the different COVID-19 vaccines:
Pfizer
KP.2, a subtype of JN.1 strain of the COVID-19 virus
Moderna
KP.2, a subtype of JN.1 strain of the COVID-19 virus
Novavax
JN.1 strain of the COVID-19 virus
Pfizer
Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death.
Moderna
Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death.
Novavax
Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death.
Pfizer
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 2024-2025 formula
Age 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: 3 doses
Age 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 3 doses
Age 6 months to 4 years, vaccinated previously: 1 or 2 doses
Age 6 months to 4 years, vaccinated previously, weakened immune system: varies
Age 5 years and older, unvaccinated: 1 dose
Age 5 years and older, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 3 doses
Age 5 years and older, vaccinated previously: 1 dose
Age 5 years and older, vaccinated previously, weakened immune system: varies
Moderna
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 2024-2025 formula
Age 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: 2 doses
Age 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 3 doses
Age 6 months to 4 years, vaccinated previously: 1 or 2 doses
Age 6 months to 4 years, vaccinated previously, weakened immune system: varies
Age 5 years and older, unvaccinated: 1 dose
Age 5 years and older, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 3 doses
Age 5 years and older, vaccinated previously: 1 dose
Age 5 years and older, vaccinated previously, weakened immune system: varies
Novavax
Novavax COVID-19, adjuvanted vaccine 2024-2025 formula
Age 6 months to 11 years: Not authorized or approved.
Age 12 and older, unvaccinated: 2 doses
Age 12 and older, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 2 doses
Age 12 and older, vaccinated previously: 1 dose
Age 12 years and older, weakened immune system: varies
Pfizer
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
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
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.
Pfizer
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
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
Protein to cause immune response
Fats to help the protein enter cells
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.
Pfizer
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 2024-2025 formula 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
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 2024-2025 formula 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
Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, adjuvanted 2024-2025 formula 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.
Pfizer
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
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
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.
Pfizer
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.
Moderna
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.
Novavax
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.
Pfizer
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
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
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.
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regulated-biologics/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- Use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html. Accessed Sept. 16, 2024.
- Overview of COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/overview-COVID-19-vaccines.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regulated-biologics/moderna-covid-19-vaccine. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, adjuvanted. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regulated-biologics/novavax-covid-19-vaccine-adjuvanted. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- Comirnaty. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/Comirnaty. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- Spikevax. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/Spikevax. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- Vaccines for children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- Bridge access program. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- How to pay for vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/pay-for-vaccines.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- Safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023.
- COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness update. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccine-effectiveness. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.
