Two Dose Vaccines
The vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use messenger RNA (mRNA), a genetic material containing instructions for making proteins. The mRNA is coated with a fat nanoparticle (think of a fatty overcoat) to protect it. Inside the body, the outer coat is removed, and the mRNA enters the immune system, teaching it to create only the "spike" protein found on the surface of the virus. (those are the spiky things you see in pictures of viruses). The body recognizes the spike protein as an invader and produces antibodies against it. Later, if the antibodies encounter the actual virus, they recognize those spike proteins and destroy it. Think of the spike protein like a key trying to unlock our cells. The antibodies from the vaccine block the keyhole, preventing the virus from intruding. The mRNA strand never enters the cell's nucleus or affects genetic material. The vaccine can't alter your DNA or give you COVID-19.Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
- Two doses, 21 days apart; peak immunity two weeks after second dose
- 95% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19
- For children and adults 6 months and older
Moderna vaccine
- Two doses, 28 days apart, peak immunity two weeks after second dose
- 94.1% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19
- For children and adults 6 months and older
- One dose; peak immunity two weeks after shot
- 85% effective at preventing severe COVID-19
- For people age 18 and older