Four years have passed since the peak of coronavirus infections in 2020. While life seemed to be returning to “normal,” the pandemic will forever change disease and virus safety protocols. Although COVID-19 infections have been somewhat controlled, they still exist in different strains, so Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax have introduced new vaccines to the public.
Pfizer and Moderna are American pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that produce many different vaccines, prescription drugs, vitamins, and home remedies such as Advil, Chapstick, Nexium, and Robitussin, which were developed by Pfizer. Novavax is a biotechnology-only company that also contributes to vaccine development.
When it comes to COVID-19, some people may prefer Novavax, which has a traditional formulation, unlike Pfizer and Moderna, which use mRNA vaccines. In molecular biology, mRNA can be defined as a single-stranded molecule of RNA that functions as a messenger ribonucleic acid that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene. This process involves protein synthesis.
According to a statement from Medline Plus, people who receive the mRNA vaccine will not be exposed to the virus, meaning they cannot contract the coronavirus from the vaccine itself. This differs from traditional vaccines, which typically contain weakened or killed bacteria or viruses to start the immune process.
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In particular, the latest vaccinations from Pfizer and Moderna target a more recent strain of the coronavirus called KP.2. Novavax’s latest vaccination targets JN.1, also known as the “parent strain” of the vaccines currently in circulation.
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According to Tony Onishik, a clinical pharmacist specializing in infectious diseases and a PharmD student at Toledo Hospital, “SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the new coronavirus (COVID-19), continually mutates. As a result, new strains are produced on a fairly regular basis, so the new vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) have been updated to more closely match the strains of the virus currently circulating in society and protect against COVID-19. It provides better protection.”
These updated vaccines are made to attack different Omicron strains as new strains become more commonly seen, so for those involved, there is no problem with older vaccines. No, these companies are simply trying to respond to a changing disease, Onishiku said.
There are currently three vaccines in total, including the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine 2024-2025 is designed for children 6 months to 11 years of age, and SPIKEVAX is intended for people 12 years of age and older. The same goes for age.
Mr. Onishik shares his expert opinion on why it is important to stay safe and take special steps when dealing with such a potentially harmful disease. “While there is no disputing that COVID-19 infections have declined since the pandemic began, there will still be more than 75,000 deaths and 915 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in 2023. There were hospitalizations. The vast majority of them had not been vaccinated, so vaccines don’t necessarily help prevent infection, but even severe infection, hospitalization, and even death.”
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine. This is especially true for people who have never been vaccinated, are over 65, are at high risk, are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Similar to the flu, many people get a seasonal flu shot each year. Onishiku added that any vaccine can be safely combined with the COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, it is recommended that you get the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine within the same season to reduce the chance of spreading these illnesses.
Visit the CDC for more information about the latest vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, and visit Vaccines.gov to find a location near you offering vaccinations.
