Introduction
The Moderna vaccine is the second vaccine to be authorized in the United States for emergency use for COVID-19. On December 18, 2020, around one week after the approval of Pfizer, the vaccine got authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This uses the same mode as Pfizer. It is an mRNA vaccine. This works by creating instructions for the body to create the spike protein unique to the particular virus. Then, they attack the protein that is there in the virus by the antibody-mediated attack against the virus. It is safe and effective for adults above the age of 18 years.
What Is the Efficacy Timeline for Moderna Vaccine?
The Moderna vaccine requires two doses to be fully effective against the virus. The effectiveness was 50.8 percent after the first dose for up to 14 days. After that, the effectiveness increases up to 92.1 percent. The vaccine takes about two weeks to take full effect after the second dose. After that, the effectiveness is approximately 94.1 percent. Therefore, the second dose should be taken within a four-week gap if it is okay to be taken within a six-week gap after the first dose. The impact of delayed injection has yet to be fully understood.
How Is the Efficacy Against Other Variants of COVID?
The coronavirus mutates to form different variants. Some of the variants are easily transferable, so it is important to know that the vaccine taken is effective for all these variants.
In January 2021, the Moderna vaccine released a statement stating that the vaccine was effective against the emerging variants of COVID-19, which included the variants that emerged in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Moderna released an update on May 21 about the study results of a booster dose with previously vaccinated individuals. The booster dose was found to be effective in protecting the two variants, and they are:
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The variant was identified in South Africa.
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The variant was first identified in Brazil.
There are chances for new variants to emerge, so the study will continue to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine against all of them.
How Is the Efficacy Compared With Other Vaccines?
The vaccines that are authorized for emergency use in the United States against COVID-19 are Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson. AstraZeneca is not yet approved for use in the United States. All these vaccines are effective, so the medical professional will not recommend a particular one. The efficacy for each of these vacancies found by the laboratory results are:
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Pfizer: It is 95 percent effective in preventing infection without any history of previous infection.
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Moderna: It is 94.1 percent effective in preventing even symptomatic infection in whom there is no previous infection.
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Johnson and Johnson: This vaccine has 72 percent overall efficacy and 86 percent efficacy against severe cases.
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AstraZeneca: The vaccine has 76 percent effectiveness in reducing the risk of symptomatic disease after two doses and is 100 percent effective against severe disease. The vaccine is also 86 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in people over 65.
Comparing the vaccine can be difficult as the trials may have different bases and are done differently. In addition, the demographic used for the trial can vary, and the period relative to the viral variants can also vary.
Can One Take Pain Reliever After Moderna Vaccine?
Some people take painkillers after the vaccine, especially after the second dose. But this might not be the best thing to take after the vaccine as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Ibuprofen can affect antibody production and thus reduce the other immune response to the vaccine.
How pain relievers can affect the vaccine's effectiveness outside the laboratory trials has yet to be understood. But taking pain relievers after the vaccine shot might not affect the vaccine's effectiveness. Moderna vaccine studies found that taking the pain relievers might not affect the vaccine and can be taken if the patient feels it necessary.
If There Are No Reactions Against the Vaccine, Does That Mean the Vaccine Is Not Effective?
The side effect of the vaccine is not mandatory for everyone to develop, and it is not linked to the vaccine's effectiveness. The side effects the person gets to show how their body was reacting to the vaccine and nothing concerned with the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Is Moderna Vaccine Effective for an Immunocompromised Patient?
For immunosuppressed patients, talk with the doctor before getting any COVID-19 vaccine. While these vaccines are safe for the immunosuppressed, speaking with the doctor about your situation is always good.
The vaccine may be less effective in some people with compromised immune systems. That said, even if the vaccine produces a weaker response, it may still be worth the added protection. People with weakened immune systems are at significant risk for COVID-19, so even some protection may be beneficial.
Is Booster Required?
There have been a lot of discussions taking place about the booster dose. A booster dose is an original vaccine to remind the body's immune system about the infection and boost the production of antibodies against them. As new variants of COVID-19 emerge very frequently, they might require a new vaccine to be effective against the mutated form of the virus.
Who Should Not Take Moderna Vaccine?
The vaccine should not be given to people allergic to any components of the vaccine. Also, people who develop myocarditis after getting the first dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine should not take any other dose of the COVID-19 vaccine unless they are suggested by a doctor or a healthcare professional.
Can Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women be Vaccinated?
The vaccine is found to be safe for pregnant women, and the WHO recommends the use of mRNA-1273 in pregnant women. The WHO does not recommend delaying the pregnancy or testing for pregnancy before the vaccine. Who also recommends using vaccines in breastfeeding women like in any other adult.
Conclusion
COVID-19 is a pandemic affecting the world, leading to death. The condition spreads very quickly from person to person. The Moderna vaccine is the second vaccine to get the authorization to be used against COVID. But the emerging new variants of COVID might not be prevented by using this vaccine.
