Comparing the differences between COVID-19 vaccines By Mayo Clinic Staff November 07, 2023 See the different COVID-19 vaccines: 2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine/Comirnaty 2023-2024 Moderna vaccine/Spikevax 2023-2024 Novavax COVID-19, adjuvanted vaccine Type Type PfizerType mRNA vaccine Moderna Type mRNA vaccine Novavax Type Protein subunit vaccine Effectiveness Effectiveness Pfizer Effectiveness Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death. Moderna Effectiveness Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death. Novavax Effectiveness Helps protect people of all ages against COVID-19 illness that is severe, requires hospital care, or causes death. Doses Doses Pfizer Doses 2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: 3 doses 6 months to 4 years, one or more shots of previous formulas: 1 or 2 doses 5 years to 11 years: 1 dose Children ages 6 months through 11 years with weakened immune systems are recommended to get at least 3 doses. One is recommended to be the updated 2023-2024 formula. Comirnaty People age 12 and older: 1 dose People age 12 years and older who have weakened immune systems are recommended to get at least 3 doses. Moderna Doses 2023-2024 Moderna vaccine 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: 2 doses 6 months to 4 years, one or more shots of previous formulas: 1 dose 5 years to 11 years: 1 dose Children ages 6 months through 11 years with weakened immune systems are recommended to get at least 3 doses. One is recommended to be the updated 2023-2024 formula. Spikevax People age 12 and older: 1 dose People age 12 years and older who have weakened immune systems are recommended to get at least 3 doses. Novavax Doses 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: Not authorized or approved for use. 6 months to 4 years, one or more shots of previous formulas: Not authorized or approved for use. 5 years to 11 years: Not authorized or approved for use. Novavax is not authorized or approved for use by children ages 6 months through 11 years with weakened immune systems. People age 12 and older: 2 doses People age 12 years and older who have weakened immune systems are recommended to get 1 or 2 doses, depending on vaccination history. Side effects Side effects Pfizer Side effects Pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, fever, feeling unwell and swollen lymph nodes. Children may have irritability, poor feeding, lack of energy, vomiting or belly pain among other symptoms. Rare cases of serious allergic reaction minutes to hours after shot. Rare cases of heart problems in the two weeks after vaccination. Get medical care if chest pain, shortness of breath or if the heartbeat feels fluttery, fast or pounding after getting the vaccine. Moderna Side effects Pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, fever, feeling unwell, and swollen lymph nodes. Children may have irritability, poor feeding, lack of energy, vomiting or belly pain among other symptoms. Rare cases of serious allergic reaction minutes to hours after shot. Rare cases of heart problems in the two weeks after vaccination. Get medical care if chest pain, shortness of breath or if the heartbeat feels fluttery, fast or pounding after getting the vaccine. Novavax Side effects Pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, fever, feeling unwell, and swollen lymph nodes. Rare cases of serious allergic reaction minutes to hours after shot. Rare cases of heart problems in the 10 days after vaccination. Get medical care if chest pain, shortness of breath or if the heartbeat feels fluttery, fast or pounding after getting the vaccine. Ingredients Ingredients Pfizer Ingredients Messenger RNA (mRNA) Fats to help the mRNA Sugar to keep the vaccine stable Acidic ingredients to keep the vaccine stable Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex in the vial stoppers. Moderna Ingredients Messenger RNA (mRNA) Fats to help the mRNA Sugar to keep the vaccine stable Acidic ingredients to keep the vaccine stable Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex in the vial stoppers. Novavax Ingredients Protein to cause immune response Fats to help the protein Salts to keep the vaccine stable Sugar to keep the vaccine stable Acidic ingredients to keep the vaccine stable Herbal fraction to boost immune response Doesn't contain eggs, preservatives or latex in the vial stoppers. Approval, authorization and safety Approval, authorization and safety Pfizer Approval, authorization and safety 2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for people ages 6 months through 11 years. Comirnaty is approved for people age 12 and older. The vaccines that help protect against COVID-19 are safe and effective based on clinical trials and continued monitoring. Moderna Approval, authorization and safety 2023-2024 Moderna vaccine is authorized for people ages 6 months through 11 years. Spikevax is approved for people age 12 and older. The vaccines that help protect against COVID-19 are safe and effective based on clinical trials and continued monitoring. Novavax Approval, authorization and safety Novavax is authorized for people age 12 and older. The vaccines that help protect against COVID-19 are safe and effective based on clinical trials and continued monitoring. Eligibility Eligibility Pfizer Eligibility People age 6 months and older can get the vaccine. People who've had a severe allergic reaction to any of the vaccine's ingredients or after a prior dose of a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shouldn't get the vaccine. Moderna Eligibility People age 6 months and older can get the vaccine. People who've had a severe allergic reaction to any of the vaccine's ingredients or after a prior dose of a Moderna vaccine shouldn't get the vaccine. Novavax Eligibility People age 12 and older can get the vaccine. People who've had an immediate allergic reaction to the vaccine or a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine shouldn't get the vaccine. Cost Cost Pfizer Cost In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines may be offered at no cost through insurance coverage. People younger than 18 years old can get no-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. Adults can get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through the Bridges to Access program. Moderna Cost In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines may be offered at no cost through insurance coverage. People younger than 18 years old can get no-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. Adults can get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through the Bridges to Access program. Novavax Cost In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines may be offered at no cost through insurance coverage. People younger than 18 years old can get no-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. Adults can get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through the Bridges to Access program. Existing health conditions Existing health conditions Pfizer Existing health conditions You can get a vaccine if you have an existing health condition, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have existing health conditions, take medications, or you're pregnant, and you have questions about the vaccine, talk to your healthcare team. If you have any other questions or concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare team. Moderna Existing health conditions You can get a vaccine if you have an existing health condition, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have existing health conditions, take medications, or you're pregnant, and you have questions about the vaccine, talk to your healthcare team. If you have any other questions or concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare team. Novavax Existing health conditions You can get a vaccine if you have an existing health condition, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have existing health conditions, take medications, or you're pregnant, and you have questions about the vaccine, talk to your healthcare team. If you have any other questions or concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare team. Show references Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regulated-biologics/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Overview of COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/overview-COVID-19-vaccines.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. 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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/pay-for-vaccines.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness update. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccine-effectiveness. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.