Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Will Have the Same Side Effects as the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine

Lest you haven’t heard, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has just been approved here in Singapore and will be joining the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in keeping Singaporeans safe.

It’s nice to know that we currently have two vaccine options, of course, but the age-old question still remains for everyone who’s yet to take it – what will happen to me after the jab?

Will you contract the virus, too, or suddenly grow wings and become the dengue mosquito you’ve always hated? Or even worse, turn into a zombie and make Train to Bishan a reality?

Fortunately, it’s none of that. Yet.

Both Vaccines Have Similar Side Effects

By now, some people would’ve already been aware of the side effects that reportedly come along with the administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which Singapore’s currently using following its first shipment here last December.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) shared on 3 Feb that the administration of the newly approved Moderna vaccine actually entails similar side effects to Pfizer’s.

After vaccination, side effects could include pain, swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle ache, fever, chills, vomiting, and joint pain. Thankfully, no zombie infections.

In addition, a small number of people may experience fatigue, headaches and muscle and joint aches on a more severe level, said the HSA.

However, they added that these side effects typically go away on their own after a few days, and emphasised on the fact that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks.

As the body builds immunity against the virus, it is expected that it will respond this way naturally, especially since such side effects are commonly associated with vaccinations.

Just imagine your body becoming Hulk’s – it may hurt, but it’s definitely becoming stronger.

However, It’s Not For Everyone Just Yet

The Moderna vaccine has only just been granted interim authorisation by the HSA under the Pandemic Special Access Route, which serves in crises such as this pandemic to facilitate access to new medicine and vaccines.

Currently, it has been approved for people above 18 years old, and the two doses of the vaccine have to be taken 28 days apart.

The HSA has also advised certain groups of people, such as pregnant women or the severely immunocompromised, not to take this vaccine just yet as safety and efficacy data have not been made available for them as of now.

Just like taking any other vaccine, a small proportion of people may also experience severe allergic reactions, the authority added. People with a history of anaphylaxis or who have severe or multiple allergies to food and medicine should not take the vaccine as well.

The Moderna vaccine has a 94% efficacy rate, which means that in a vaccinated group of people, symptomatic COVID-19 infections reduced by 94% as compared to another non-vaccinated group of the same size.

This is slightly lesser than Pfizer’s 95% efficacy rate, however.

HSA Will Continue Ensuring Its Safety 

Still, HSA ensured that other registered vaccines administered to immunise against other diseases was generally consistent with the safety profile of the Moderna vaccine.

Chief executive Mimi Choong added that the HSA has applied “the same rigorous evaluation processes, as with all vaccines, to ensure that the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine has met the required high standards of quality, safety and efficacy”.

Furthermore, the vaccine has only been given interim authorisation, meaning that the deal’s not exactly sealed yet –  if there happens to be new data showing that the vaccine poses too high a risk, this authorisation could be terminated.

As a result, Moderna’s required to monitor the long-term efficacy of the vaccine and how long it will be able to protect people against the virus. The vaccine’s full safety profile will also have to be determined through follow-ups over a longer period of time.

Moderna’s vaccine takes effect two months after both doses of the vaccine have been completed, and there are no signs of waning protection, data has shown.

The HSA has also promised to continue reviewing the data and make sure that the benefits are still worth the risks posed.

Having not one, but two vaccines here in Singapore will help to diversify the supply chain here, which may be affected due to production issues and changing needs following global developments, said Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore.

“It is important for every country to build up a robust supply pipeline, to avoid over-reliance on a single producer which may invariably affect national vaccination strategies,” he commented.

Well, at least we have a backup plan.

Can be Stored Easier

The goody thing about this vaccine is that it can be stored easily; it can stay stable up to 12 hours at room temperature and up to 30 days at 2°C to 8°C, which is the normal refrigerator temperature.

If stored at -20 degrees Celsius, the vaccine remains stable for up to six months.

Conversely, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be stored at -70 °C, and can only be stored for up to five days at standard refrigerator temperatures.

You can read more about the vaccine here.

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