Moderna vs Pfizer Vaccine Side Effects Comparison – Several health experts around the world were very concerned regarding the safety of the COVID vaccine. The sudden spread of COVID-19 surprised everyone in the world and governments around the world urged the vaccine manufacturer to work on vaccines for COVID-19 on a priority basis.
And vaccine manufacturers around the world also started working on the COVID vaccine in a hurry, which we realized when the Food and Drug Administration of the United States limited the use of the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine in the United States.
Those limitations by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States did not just hurt the vaccination drive in that country but the interest of people in COVID vaccines. In the last few months, the Centers for Disease control and prevention is struggling a lot to Achieve 100% vaccination status.
That is why today we are here to discuss Moderna vs Pfizer vaccine side effects comparison. This major comparison will help you decide which vaccine manufacturer you should select for your vaccination process and whether should you go with COVID vaccines in general or not.
Vaccine Side Effects are Acknowledged by the CDC.
When we start with the major comparison, let’s first discuss the general side effects acknowledged by the Centers for Disease control and prevention.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States is among the major public health departments in the United States and the CDC also acknowledges its huge list of side effects of the vaccine for COVID-19.
The CDC does not deny the general side effects of the COVID vaccine which will be experienced by everyone who is going to get vaccinated. The CDC has categorized the general side effects of the COVID vaccine into three different age groups. Let’s first take a look at all of those.
Age 6 months to three years
- Pain on the spot of injection
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Sleepiness
- Loss of appetite
- Crying
Four years to 17 years
- Pain and swelling on the site of injection
- Headache
- Muscle ache
- Joint pain
- Children
- Tiredness
- Swollen lymph nodes
18 years and older
- Pain on the site of injection
- Redness and swelling on the site of injection
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Chills
These are among the general side effects which have been recognized by the Centers for Disease control and prevention. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest everyone not consume any medication without consulting with their health care provider.
Most of these symptoms will be experienced by everyone who is going to take the COVID vaccine regardless of the vaccine manufacturer.
Allergic Reaction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recognize allergic reactions as among the severe side effects often the COVID vaccine. The CDC suggests everyone who is allergic to any ingredient used in the vaccine or general consult with their health care provider before getting vaccinated by any vaccine manufacturer.
As a precautionary measure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest everyone monitor their conditions at least 10 to 15 minutes after getting vaccinated. In case you start experiencing any symptoms associated with an allergic reaction including swelling on the face, rash, or trouble breathing then you should let it know to your healthcare provider or call 911.
What is the major difference between Moderna and Pfizer’s COVID vaccine?
To compare 2 vaccines, we have to start from the basics. Health experts in the United States including the Centers for Disease Control and prevention do not give preference to any vaccine.
The CDC has recommended a list of vaccine manufacturers and the decision to Select a vaccine manufacturer depends on the person.
Moderna and Pfizer both are mRNA vaccines that offer somewhat equal protection against it COVID-19. Vaccine manufacturers have launched their new COVID booster shots which are also known as updated COVID boosters in the United States.
Unlike the primary series of COVID vaccines, both of the new COVID booster shots have a huge difference in their core. As you might already be aware, every COVID vaccine in the world contains an inactivated COVID virus that can help your body understand the virus and fight it.
The updated booster shot of Moderna is going to contain the original strain of omicron virus which is expected to provide greater protection against the whole series of omicron (BA1), including currently dominating variants named BA4 and BA5.
On the other hand, Pfizer’s updated booster shot is going to contain the strength of BA4 and BA5. Several health experts around the world believe that Pfizer can provide immediate relief, and contain the spread of the virus as much as possible.
Pfizer or Moderna, which is the Best COVID Vaccine Manufacturer?
It is very hard to give a tag of being the best vaccine to any COVID vaccine unless we have strong proof based on studies and facts.
Any government organization or public health department has declared any vaccine manufacturer as the best COVID vaccine manufacturer in the country. We can rely on some independent studies but the publisher and the researchers should be trustworthy.
As you can see in the below-given chart which was published on safelyHQ, Both vaccines are somewhat equal when it comes to the general side effects of any COVID vaccine.
If you take a deep look at the chart you will find that the Pfizer vaccine is known to cause mild symptoms more than the Moderna vaccine. On the other hand, there is a high probability that you can experience strong side effects of the Moderna vaccine as compared to Pfizer.
Apart from that, it is not the only study in the world that is in favor of Moderna. Several other studies and researchers have already proved that the Moderna vaccine isn’t known to be safer as compared to Pfizer.
But, we do not Believe those researchers and studies because the federal government of the United States including the public health departments indicate a whole different story than those studies.
What does the Federal Government say about the Side Effects of COVID Vaccines?
Even though the federal government of the United States including public health departments such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not say anything about the preference over any COVID vaccine manufacturer in the country, there are some indications.
If you take a look at the whole timeline of COVID vaccines in the United States, you will find that public health departments such as FDA and CDC have been giving a little bit of edge to the Pfizer COVID vaccine manufacturer in the country.
Pfizer’s COVID vaccine manufacturer has always broken the age barrier when it comes to vaccinating anyone below the age of 18 in the United States.
Even if you take a look at the new COVID booster shots or updated booster shots you will find that Pfizer is the only vaccine manufacturer which has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States to vaccinate Americans below the age of 18 with updated booster shots.
On the other hand, Moderna COVID booster shots might be good but it has not been recommended or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to vaccinate anyone below the age of 18 in the United States with updated booster shots.
There could be any reason for this preference but we are seeing a strong trend in favor of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine manufacturer when it comes to being the favorite of the Food and Drug Administration.
Now, you might argue that the whole thing does not indicate anything, but You have to agree on one thing that the Food and Drug Administration of the United States is somewhat in favor of Pfizer.
Which is the Most Popular COVID Vaccine in the United States?
There is a very simple answer to this question. Pfizer COVID vaccine is the most popular COVID vaccine in the United States. Even if you take a look at the COVID data tracker launched by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention of the United States you will see Pfizer is among the most popular vaccine manufacturers.
Till now, Pfizer has vaccinated more than 129 million Americans on the other hand Moderna has just vaccinated more than 78 million Americans. Similarly, Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine manufacturer has vaccinated just 17 million Americans.
That is the data of full vaccination. Even if you take a look at the booster shot data you will see that people are in favor of Pfizer as compared to Moderna or Johnson and Johnson. More than 61 million Americans have received the first booster shot of the COVID vaccine made by Pfizer and only 46 million have received Moderna.
Where to Report Severe Side Effects of the COVID Vaccine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have two different portals where Americans can report the severe side effects of COVID-19 they are experiencing after getting vaccinated. First of all, you can use the V-safe application. It is a smartphone-based application that can provide quick and confidential health check-ins. Apart from that, you can also use the vaccine adverse event reporting system. The CDC recommends you use any platform.