With the amount of misinformation in the media, it can be very difficult to trust new products like the Covid-19 vaccines. What are they made of? What exactly do they do? How do they affect people? Pfizer or Moderna? All questions that have run through our minds when deciding whether or not to get the vaccine. To make things simpler, this article is going to explain everything you need to know about both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Who were they made by?
The Pfizer vaccine was made by Pfizer, INc., BioNTech. Pfizer is an American corporation from New York that partnered with BioNTech, a biotechnology company from Germany. The vaccine itself was developed in Germany, originated by BioNTech. Scientists Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci were primarily responsible for the vaccine’s creation. On August 23, 2021 it officially became FDA approved.
The Moderna vaccine was developed in Cambridge, Massachusetts by Moderna, another biotechnology company. More specifically, it was developed by Hamilton Bennett and her team.
There are other vaccines as well such as Johnson and Johnson, Oxford, and several others in development, however, not much is known about them yet.
What is in them?
There are three main ingredients in the Pfizer vaccine: mRNA, lipids, and sugars. The Pfizer vaccine is the first mRNA vaccine to become FDA approved, so many are skeptical of its purpose. Some believe it’s rewriting or altering your DNA, but that’s false. The mRNA’s purpose in the vaccine is to provide instructions to your body to create a harmless protein from SARS-CoV-2 that causes an immune response. This response makes it much easier for your body to fight off to virus if you come into contact with it. The lipids are used to assist the protein created, and the sugars help the vaccine remain preserved in cooler temperatures during storage.
The Moderna vaccine contains both mRNA and lipids similar to the Pfizer vaccine. Though instead of solely sugars, they include salt, acid stabilizers, and acid. These ingredients are used solely for storage and cooling purposes.
For the full ingredient list for both vaccines please visit this site.
How effective are they?
The Pfizer Vaccine was proven to be 80% effective after the first dosage and 95% effective after the second. However, after about 4 months, its effectiveness plummets to 77%.
The Moderna Vaccine is 90-95% effective, and,unlike the Pfizer vaccine, its effectiveness remains consistent even after months pass.
Myth vs. Fact
Myth: “The vaccines can affect the fertility of women!”
Fact: Neither of the Covid-19 vaccines will affect fertility. This was a false report that came about on social media. During testing for the Pfizer vaccine, 23 of the women tested became pregnant. The only woman who suffered a miscarriage had recieved a placebo, not the real vaccine. However, contracting Covid-19 itself has the potential to affect pregnancy and fertility. In order to learn more about Covid-19’s effect on pregnancy and fertility, visit Corona virus and Pregnancy: What You Need To Know.
Myth: “The vaccines will alter your cells and DNA”
Fact: The vaccines will not alter your cells or DNA. The mRNA in the vaccines do not enter the nucleus of your cells,where your DNA is located. The mRNA simply causes the cells to create a protein to help your body better defend itself against the virus.
Myth: “mRNA vaccines are extremely new technology and are experimental!”
Fact: mRNA vaccines have been in development for almost 20 years now. They have been designed to fight off pandemics such as Covid-19.
Comments