Which vaccine is more effective? Studies suggest that it is this

One of the arguments that many health professionals have made relates to the effectiveness of the vaccine. They all say getting a shot is important, whether it’s Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, or Pfizer. But is there a vaccine that is superior to the others? While they are all very effective, data suggests that there is one vaccine that stands out from the rest.

According to a report published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Moderna vaccine appeared to have more protective powers than Pfizer.

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This study analyzed the actual effectiveness of vaccines in preventing disease in 5,000 healthcare workers in 25 states. Both vaccines were very effective, but Pfizer’s defense rate was 88.8% versus 96.3% for Moderna. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Pfizer’s protection deteriorates over time, from 91% to 77% after a period of four months. The protection of Moderna does not show the same decline.

The New York Times reports that if that gap widened, it could potentially be important data when it comes to booster vaccinations and who needs them.

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Although those who received the Pfizer vaccine may feel a little stressed out, experts say the difference is small and should warrant a meltdown. “It’s not appropriate for people who took Pfizer to freak out that they got an inferior vaccine,” said virologist John Monroe.

Photo by Diana Polekhina via Unsplash

Many factors could have influenced these results, including the demographics of those who were vaccinated and when they were released. Pfizer, for example, was the first vaccine approved, meaning a large percentage of adults and health workers received it first, which could skew the data.

Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are effective against infections and serious diseases, and both exceeded researchers’ expectations when they were first developed.