According to some research, there were more than 7.79 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine given to patients.
If you were thinking about getting one of them, you might be wondering what types of coronavirus vaccines are available to you.
Thankfully, we have the perfect guide on coronavirus vaccines, so make sure you keep reading to find out what they are!
Vector Vaccines
Vector vaccines give you genetic material from the COVID-19 virus. However, the virus in the vaccine is placed in a different version of the virus.
That means that when it gets into your cells, it delivers the genetic material and tells the cells to start building an immunity to it. When your cells build immunity, your immune system will then make antibodies and create white blood cells.
That way, if you get COVID-19 later, your body will already know how to make the antibodies.
Nucleic Acid
Nucleic acid vaccines use the genetic material to make the cells make antigen. Normally, they’ll use either DNA or RNA to make this.
With COVID-19, they use a viral spike protein. Then, when the spike gets into the human cell, the cell will start making an antigen that triggers the immune response.
These vaccines are popular because they’re cheap and easy to make. However, they haven’t been licensed to use on humans. They also need to be stored in a cold area, which can make it difficult for lower-income countries to use them.
Whole Virus
Whole virus vaccines are conventional vaccines that use the entire vaccine to trigger your immune system.
However, there are two main approaches to this type of vaccine. If you get a live virus, then the virus can still replicate, but you won’t actually get sick.
You could also get an inactivated vaccine, where the virus’s genetic material is destroyed. That means it can’t replicate, but it will still trigger an immune response.
Both of these vaccines have been used for a while, but they may not be great for people who have weak immune systems. They also need to be stored in the cold, so these can also be difficult to use in a country that doesn’t have low resources.
mRNA
The mRNA vaccine is the most common one that is used to battle COVID-19.
It’s genetically engineered mRNA that gives your cells instructions for how to make the S protein. The S protein is found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus.
Once you’re vaccinated, your immune cells will start making that S protein and putting them on the surfaces of their cells. This will make your immune system produce antibodies.
If you do get infected with COVID-19, these antibodies will help fight the virus.
Pfizer
Speaking of mRNA, one of the most-used mRNA vaccine is Pfizer’s. This was the first COVID-19 vaccine to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was approved for people who were older than 16 in August 2021.
It also got FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in December 2020 after the company said that it had been effective in reducing or stopping COVID-19.
This uses the new mRNA technology, which is newer. However, this vaccine also has to be stored in freezer temperatures, which makes it difficult to distribute.
This vaccine puts an inactive germ into your body, and the mRNA delivers some genetic code into your body’s cells. This gives the cells instructions on how to make copies of the spike proteins to defend against COVID-19.
This is one of the more effective options that you can have, but scientists are still studying it to see just how effective it really is both in the lab and the real world.
Some experts anticipate that the efficacy is somewhere between 90 to 97%. However, you will need to get two doses and possible a booster in order to have that level of protection.
Moderna
Moderna was also another mRNA vaccine that was given emergency use in the United States at the end of 2020. It came out just a week after the Pfizer vaccine.
Moderna uses the same technology and provides the same efficacy. The only difference is the level of dosage between the two, but they’re very similar.
FDA also approved the booster shot for Moderna in August for people who are immunocompromised. This will give them even more ability to fight the vaccine.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Moderna vaccine, check out what Kenneth Chien has to say about it.
Johnson and Johnson
Johnson and Johnson was another of the coronavirus vaccines granted FDA approval in February 2021.
This isn’t an mRNA vaccine, but instead, it’s a virus vector vaccine. Because of this, you only need one dosage for it to be effective.
This makes it easier to administer and distribute. You can also store it at a normal refrigeration temperature.
AstraZeneca
Lastly, AstraZeneca is another of the coronavirus vaccine types, but it’s mostly used in Europe. This is the main one that was in the United Kingdom, and it is offered at a lower cost.
It’s cheaper to make for each dose, but it does have to be frozen before it’s stored.
Learn More About the Different Types of Coronavirus Vaccines
These are only a few of the different types of coronavirus vaccines, but there are other options available.
If you aren’t sure whether you should get the vaccine or not, speak with your doctor. They will be able to help you make a decision.
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