Comparing the differences between COVID-19 vaccines By Mayo Clinic Staff September 16, 2024 See the different COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine/Comirnaty Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vaccine/Spikevax Novavax COVID-19, adjuvanted vaccine Type Type PfizerType mRNA vaccine Moderna Type mRNA vaccine Novavax Type Protein subunit vaccine COVID-19 strain COVID-19 strain PfizerCOVID-19 strain KP.2, a subtype of JN.1 strain of the COVID-19 virus Moderna COVID-19 strain KP.2, a subtype of JN.1 strain of the COVID-19 virus Novavax COVID-19 strain JN.1 strain of the COVID-19 virus 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 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 2024-2025 formula Age 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: 3 doses Age 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 3 doses Age 6 months to 4 years, vaccinated previously: 1 or 2 doses Age 6 months to 4 years, vaccinated previously, weakened immune system: varies Age 5 years and older, unvaccinated: 1 dose Age 5 years and older, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 3 doses Age 5 years and older, vaccinated previously: 1 dose Age 5 years and older, vaccinated previously, weakened immune system: varies Moderna Doses Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 2024-2025 formula Age 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated: 2 doses Age 6 months to 4 years, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 3 doses Age 6 months to 4 years, vaccinated previously: 1 or 2 doses Age 6 months to 4 years, vaccinated previously, weakened immune system: varies Age 5 years and older, unvaccinated: 1 dose Age 5 years and older, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 3 doses Age 5 years and older, vaccinated previously: 1 dose Age 5 years and older, vaccinated previously, weakened immune system: varies Novavax Doses Novavax COVID-19, adjuvanted vaccine 2024-2025 formula Age 6 months to 11 years: Not authorized or approved. Age 12 and older, unvaccinated: 2 doses Age 12 and older, unvaccinated, weakened immune system: 2 doses Age 12 and older, vaccinated previously: 1 dose Age 12 years and older, weakened immune system: varies 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 enter cells 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 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 2024-2025 formula 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 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 2024-2025 formula 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 COVID-19 vaccine, adjuvanted 2024-2025 formula 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 Sept. 16, 2024. 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. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regulated-biologics/moderna-covid-19-vaccine. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, adjuvanted. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regulated-biologics/novavax-covid-19-vaccine-adjuvanted. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Comirnaty. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/Comirnaty. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Spikevax. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/Spikevax. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Vaccines for children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. Bridge access program. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html. Accessed Nov. 7, 2023. How to pay for vaccines. 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.