With nearly four years behind us since the COVID-19 pandemic began, it’s easy to feel lost and confused about the vaccination process. There are different formulas created by different pharmaceutical companies, and trails of updated boosters that follow each of them. You may be wondering where you are in your vaccination journey, or if you’re unvaccinated and looking to change that, you may be wondering what’s ahead of you.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides information on three different FDA approved formulas: Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax. Moderna and Pfizer are both mRNA vaccines, while Novavax is a protein subunit vaccine.
You may already know that mRNA is short for Messenger RNA. As its name suggests, mRNA acts as a messenger between cells, delivering information directly to the DNA of our bodies’ cells. In the case of vaccines like Moderna and Pfizer, mRNA is created in a laboratory such that it contains the information that our cells need to fight off the COVID-19 virus. Specifically, the information it carries to our cells is how to produce the protein needed to fight the infection.
Protein subunit vaccines, like Novavax, work differently. These vaccines contain pieces of the COVID-19 virus, which are known as “spike proteins.” These spike proteins are accompanied by another ingredient called an adjuvant, which helps our immune system to respond to the spike protein. It’s a tag-team effort, wherein the spike-protein provides an example to our immune system of the threat of COVID-19, and the adjuvant helps bring our immune system’s attention to the threat.
Now that you have an idea of what to expect, consult a trusted medical practitioner to find out what treatment is right for you. Read on below to see where you are in your vaccination schedule!
| Formula | Moderna | Pfizer-BioNTech | Novavax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Doses | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Time between Doses | Dose #1 – 4 Weeks – Dose #2 – 4 Weeks – Dose #3 | Dose #1 – 3 Weeks – Dose #2 – 4 Weeks – Dose #3 | Dose #1 – 3 Weeks – Dose #2 |
Sources:
“Overview of COVID-19 Vaccines,” COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/overview-COVID-19-vaccines.html
“Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States,” Vaccines & Immunizations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/interim-considerations-us.html#transitioning-younger-older
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