Which Vaccine is Right For Me?
Author: Chantel Sloan, PhD, Public Health, BYU
Respiratory Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Respiratory Infectious Disease Epidemiology
The Top Vaccine Candidates
| Vaccine | Type | Doses | Storage | Efficacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pfizer/BioNTech | mRNA | 2 | -70 °C | 90+% |
| Moderna | mRNA | 2 | -20 °C | 90+% |
| AstraZeneca/Oxford | Adenovector | 2 | 4-8°C | 60-90% (varies by dosage) |
| Johnson&Johnson | Adenovector | 1 | -20°C | 66% (85+% against severe COVID) |
Local and health departments oversee vaccine distribution. There are limited of each vaccine available, so its unlikely that you will get to choose which one you get. All of the vaccines in use right now in the US and abroad are very effective against preventing the worst outcomes from COVID-19. They have all been proven safe in clinical trials. If you have specific questions about the vaccines, ask your doctor.
What about Vaccination Among Special Groups
Pregnancy
Decision to be vaccinated made by individual consultation with doctor (No evidence of birth defects from COVID-19)
Children
Vaccine trials in children under 16 years old are currently underway. Unclear when studies will be finished and vaccine available.
Immunocompromised
Encouraged to get vaccine in consultation with physician. It won't be as effective as if immune system is healthy, but still confer some protection.
Certain Minority Groups
Minority groups hit particularly hard by COVID-19, such as citizen of the Navajo Nation, are a priority group for vaccination.