Five millions doses of Moderna vaccine have been ordered by the UK and 40 million of the Pfizer jab. The two proved to be the most effective vaccines against COVID-19 so far.
One week after Pfizer/BioNTech released 90% of efficacy of COVID-19 vacine which is the results of phrase three of vaccine study, the vaccine developed by US Company Moderna is announced to probably have the 94.5% efficiency against the virus.
nRNA is the technology that both the Pfizer and Moderna labs used on their studies. By using this innovation, a message sequence containing the genetic introductions will be introduced into the body of vaccinated person, then their cells themselves produce the antigens and generate an immune response.
According to initiation data, Pfizer vaccine offers around 90% protection against COVID-19, while Moderna’s results indicate 94.5% effectiveness. Nevertheless, the researchers of these two vaccine were making attempt to their studies and there could be changes of number at the end.
Shipment and storage
How the vaccines can be stored is one of the great differences between these two candidates. There is the matter that Moderna vaccine is much easier to distribute than the Pfizer jab.
In order to maintain optimal efficacy, the Pfizer have to be store at around (-70O C), (-100 O F) during transport and storage. Another liquid is also used to mix with this kind of vaccine before carring out.
Meanwhile, 30 days is the range of time that the Moderna vaccine can last even in household fridges, and it can reach to 12 hours when storing at room temperature, and 6 months in -20O C in household or medical freezers.
mRNA-1273 can be allocated efficiently without infusion before vaccination by using vaccine delivery and storage infrastructure.
Andrew Hill, senior visiting research fellow in the department of pharmacology at the University of Liverpool, said: “This vaccine would be much easier to transport and administer than the one from Pfizer. Also the preliminary evidence suggests that it can prevent severe COVID-19 disease. However, the Moderna vaccine is more expensive and there are fewer doses available in the next year.”
Cost
The Moderna vaccine is costly. $38 for a dose during the summer and surpassing Pfizer at $20.
Dr Zoltan Kis, research associate at the Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub, Imperial College London said that Pfizer would be produced in higher numbers and at lower cost. Due to the fact that the Moderna vaccine involves higher mRNA amount per dose (100 micrograms) comparing to 30 micrograms of Pfizer’s vaccine. Additionally, Pfizer could lose their advantage over transport issue when Moderna candidate could be stored effortlessly.
“Therefore, once approved by the regulatory authorities, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine can be distributed substantially easier and at lower costs compared to the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine,” Dr. Kis said.
Photo: AFP
UK availability
Five million doses of the Moderna had been odered by the UK and be delivered by spring. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this candidate would not be used widely across Europe until then.
Downing Street said: “The news from Moderna appears to be good and represents another significant step towards finding an effective COVID-19 vaccine.”
The Moderna had been developed with the help of the federally funded National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Health and Human Services, therefore, the US is the first market that this company aim to.
Photo: AFP
The US government had funded $2.4bn (£1.8bn) for Moderna, therefore it is common that this company supply 20 million doses for use in the US. That means it take time for other countries to receive this kind of vaccine.
As this time, about a third of the UK population, approximately 20 million people were going to be obtained the supply of 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine from the UK government. Before the end of this year, those who were chosen to be got the jab will receive two doses in 21 days apart.
via SkyNews