Different COVID-19 Vaccines
Topic | Pfizer* | Moderna | Janssen/J&J | NOVAVAX |
---|---|---|---|---|
Emergency use in the U.S. | Yes, for ages 6 months+ with full FDA approval for ages 12+ | Yes, for ages 6 months+ with full FDA approval for ages 18+ | Yes, for ages 18+ | Yes, for ages 12+ |
Primary vaccination series by Age groups | 6 months - 4 years: 3 bivalent doses (3-8 weeks between dose 1 and 2, at least 8 weeks between dose 2 and 3)
5 years and older: 1 bivalent dose |
6 months - 5 years: 2 bivalent doses 4 - 8 weeks apart
6 years and older: 1 bivalent dose |
18+ years: 1 shot
| 12+ years: 2 shots given 3-8 weeks apart
|
Optional additional dose | 2 months after last bivalent vaccine for immunocompromised; 4 months after last bivalent vaccine for persons 65+ | 2 months after last bivalent vaccine for immunocompromised; 4 months after last bivalent vaccine for persons 65+ | 2 months after initial dose; mRNA bivalent vaccine only | 6 months after second shot for anyone over age 18*** |
Vaccine type | mRNA | mRNA | Viral vector | Adjuvanted |
How it works | This mRNA vaccine helps teach our immune system to recognize COVID-19 | This mRNA vaccine helps teach our immune system to recognize COVID-19 | This viral vector vaccine is made of an inactivated, harmless virus that helps instruct our immune system to recognize COVID-19 | The vaccine contains an inactive viral protein with an added ingredient to help boost the immune system response to provide protection |
Common side effects | Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain and fever | Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain and fever | Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and fever | Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and fever |
Potential allergens | Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex | Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex | Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex | Doesn’t contain eggs, preservatives or latex |
Time to maximum protection from primary series | Two weeks after 2nd dose | Two weeks after 2nd dose | Two weeks | 2 weeks after receipt of 2nd dose |
If viewing this chart on your phone, scroll to the left to see all vaccines.
*See schedule for COVID-19 vaccination for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
**According to the CDC, an 8-week interval between the first and second primary series doses of Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines might be optimal for some people ages 6 months–64 years, especially for males age 12–39 years, as it might reduce the small risk of myocarditis and pericarditis associated with these vaccines.
***A monovalent Novavax booster dose (instead of a bivalent mRNA vaccine) may be used in limited situations in people ages 18 years and older who completed a primary series using any COVID-19 vaccine, have not received any previous booster dose(s), and are unable (i.e., contraindicated or not available) or unwilling to receive an mRNA vaccine and would otherwise not receive a booster dose.
Sources: Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen/J&J, FDA and CDC