Breaking Down The Differences Between The Two COVID-19 Vaccines

State health officials said the vaccine you want is whichever is first available to you.

“In terms of the way the vaccine was developed, there is virtually no difference,” Lynn Institute CEO Carlos Blanco said. “They are both mRNA vaccines. Both of them have the same effectiveness. Limited side effects.”

“Serious side effects from these vaccines are really, really rare,” said Dr. Kevin Lewis with SSM Health.

This week’s shipments include 23,400 Pfizer vaccines with many going to long-term care facilities. There were 66,200 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine that arrived in Oklahoma.

The biggest difference between the vaccines are how they are stored.

“The Moderna vaccine gives us options to send it to locations that do not have the storage capability like Pfizer,” said Deputy Commissioner of Health Keith Reed.

Whichever vaccine is administered, there is virtually no difference.

“Their research is so unbelievably similar when you look at it,” Dr. Lewis said. “It is hard to tease them out from each other. Medical professionals do not have a difference which you get.”

While there might be no difference in effectiveness, side effects, and what the vaccine is made out of, there are a few things to note.

As of right now, you cannot mix the two vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine needs its second shot 21 days apart while the Moderna second shot should be separated by 28 days.

“I would choose either one, honestly,” Blanco said. “Whichever one is offered, take it. There is no reason to pick one versus the other.”