Are the approved mRNA vaccines comparable?
The mRNA vaccines made by Moderna (Spikevax®) and Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty®) have both been approved for use in Switzerland. They are comparable in terms of their safety and efficacy. Both offer an efficacy rate of more than 90 percent, and both are associated with similar side effects.
Neither vaccine contains adjuvants, i.e. substances such as aluminium that are added to enhance the immune response. Indeed, the immune response elicited by mRNA vaccines is sufficiently strong.
The two vaccines differ in terms of their composition. In particular, the lipid nanoparticles used to encapsulate the mRNA are different. The lipid nanoparticle used for the Moderna vaccine allows distributors to store the vaccine longer and at higher temperatures
- What is an mRNA and what is its function?
- How do mRNA vaccines work?
- Which mRNA vaccines are already approved or under development in Switzerland?
- Are the approved mRNA vaccines comparable?
- Does the mRNA vaccine affect our genetic material?
- What do the approved mRNA vaccines contain?
- What side effects are known and expected for the approved mRNA vaccines?
- How effective are the approved mRNA vaccines?
- How long does the protection of the approved mRNA vaccines last?
- How and why are mRNAs modified for the vaccines?
- Is the technology behind the mRNA vaccines new?
- Why were mRNA vaccines earlier available than conventional vaccines?