There is a saying: “Successful men have great women behind them.” It seems that the world of vaccines is no exception. Women scientists are behind the new pneumonia vaccines, including Sarah Gilber and Teresa Lambe (AZ vaccine), Katalin Kariko (BNT vaccine), and Kizzmekia Corbett (Modena vaccine). Corbett was also featured in Time Magazine’s “Time 100 Next list” of influential people. Thanks to the quiet work of these women in science, we have been able to see a glimmer of light in the midst of a serious epidemic.
Today, we will introduce you to the common vaccines for Neonic pneumonia.
Common Covid-19 Vaccine
AstraZeneca (AZ)
The AZ vaccine is a non-replicating adenovirus vector vaccine containing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein gene and is available for ages 18 years and older at a dose of 0.5 mL. The basic dose is two doses at a recommended interval of 8 to 12 weeks.
Common side effects include injection site pain, fatigue, headache, fever, and muscle pain. Patients with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccine components, a history of thrombotic thrombocytopenia, and a history of microvascular leakage syndrome should not be vaccinated.
Pfizer BNT vaccine
The Pfizer BNT vaccine is an mRNA vaccine containing the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus and is available for ages 12 years and older at a dose of 0.3 mL. The basic dose is 2 doses and the recommended interval of vaccination is 21 days or more.
Common side effects include headache, diarrhea, joint pain, myalgia, injection site pain, fatigue, etc. People with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccine components should not be vaccinated.
Moderna
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax) is an mRNA vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 virus spine protein (S protein), and is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration of Taiwan for the following ages and doses:
- Aged 12 years or older: 0.5 mL
- Aged 6-11 years or older: 0.25 mL
The recommended interval between inoculations is at least 28 days.
Common side effects include injection site pain, fatigue, headache, etc. People with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccine components should not be vaccinated.
MVC COVID-19 Vaccine
MVC COVID-19 Vaccine is a protein-based subunit vaccine containing SARS-CoV-2 recombinant echinocandin, and is available for ages 20 years and older at a dose of 0.5 mL according to the leaflet.
Common side effects include pain/pressure at the injection site, soreness/weakness, headache, etc. People with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccine components should not be vaccinated.
Comparison
The table comparing the four vaccines is organized as follows.
Caution
It is important to note that the base agent inoculated with AZ: additive can be chosen from Moderna half dose, BNT or MVC dose.
Base dose inoculated mRNA vaccine (BNT, Moderna) or protein subunit vaccine (MVC): add-on dose can be Moderna half dose, BNT or AZ or MVC full dose.
According to The Lancet, the protection of the Covid-19 vaccine mix is as follows.
- AZ + AZ: 50% protection
- AZ + BNT: 67% protection
- AZ + Modena: 79% protection
- BNT + BNT: 78% protection
- Moderna + Moderna: 87% protection
Recently, the most hotly debated issue in Taiwan is the BNT vaccine for children and the need for a fourth booster dose.
At present, the first batch of BNT vaccine purchased by Taiwan has arrived in Taiwan (May 16), and the Central Epidemic Command Center said it will arrange the administration schedule again, and the vaccination may start on May 20.
The Command Center also decided on May 13 that a fourth additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccine may be administered to seniors over the age of 65 or to immunocompromised patients over the age of 60, with implementation starting as soon as May 16. Options for the fourth dose include a half-dose of Moderna, a full dose of BNT or a MVC vaccine.
The good news is that the Taiwanese government has announced on May 13 that the MVC vaccine has entered the third phase of data analysis for clinical trials with 18,000 subjects from Colombia, Mali and the Philippines. We hope to hear the government’s conclusion in the near future.
Lastly, I hope everyone can take good care of their health and cheer each other on under the seriousness of the epidemic!
Other
Statistical Chart
Child-related research
In addition, for research on children, see:
Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in double and triple vaccinated adults and single dose vaccine effectiveness among children in Autumn 2021 in England: REACT-1 study 🔗
Related Articles
References：
- Lopez Bernal J, Andrews N, Gower C, Robertson C, Stowe J, Tessier E et al. Effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines on covid-19 related symptoms, hospital admissions, and mortality in older adults in England: test negative case-control study BMJ 2021; 373 :n1088 doi:10.1136/bmj.n1088 🔗
- WHO Covid-19 Vaccines 🔗
- Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare Disease Control – Vaccine Introduction (Chinese) 🔗
- Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration – Information on COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Manufacture or Importation 🔗
- Focus Taiwan CNA English news: Taiwan to roll out second COVID-19 booster from Monday: CECC 🔗
- Images taken from pixabay
