Vaccines
By: Nicole Lavelle
2021 has already been a groundbreaking year in terms of vaccinations. Currently, there are two available and recommended by the CDC in the United States. These are the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. However, there are an additional three, AstraZeneca, Janssen, and Novavax, in phase three trials which means that more people may be vaccinated soon. These vaccines are not without their flaws though, as many have side effects. These include swelling of the arm, pain, chills, headaches, and more. Despite this, the vaccine is a necessary step for many Americans in order to return to a state of normalcy.
As one of the two vaccines approved for widespread use in the United States, the Moderna vaccine has allowed many Americans to have hope for a COVID free future. According to the CDC, the vaccine requires two shots 28 days apart in order to be most successful. As of now, it is recommended for people eighteen years of age and older. As stated by Stat News, one of the main differences between Moderna and Pfizer is that moderna is using a much higher dosage. Moderna is using 100 micrograms, while pfizer is only using 30. Though the dosages are drastically different, the effects are almost identical, so it shows that a higher dosage is not very necessary and could be used to almost triple the amount of vaccinations.
The second of the two approved vaccines is the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine was also approved by the FDA in mid December of 2020. Per the CDC website, the vaccine must be taken in two doses 21 days apart. Unlike the Moderna vaccine, anyone sixteen and older is allowed to receive it. According to Stat News, the Pfizer vaccine is very hard to store. It needs to be in -94 degree fahrenheit conditions or else it will go bad. This is unlike the Moderna which requires only a -4 degree fahrenheit storage. With more vaccines on the horizon, hopefully COVID-19 will slowly start to disappear.
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