The US added a next COVID-19 vaccine to its stockpile on Friday after the Food and Drug Administration approved an emergency rollout of Moderna’s vaccine.
The move marks the world’s first permission for Moderna’s shots. It comes as mortality per day in the country have hit all-time highs, eclipsing 3,600 on Wednesday. The virus has taken more than 312,000 US lives. New cases are going at over 216,000 per day on average.
Moderna has about 5.9 million doses available for shipment set to begin over the weekend.
In a study of 30,000 volunteers, the Moderna vaccine is more than 94% effective at stopping symptomatic COVID-19 in people 18 and older. It also strongly defended older adults, who are most exposed.
US President Donald Trump hailed the support on Twitter.
“Today’s emergency use support by the Food & Drug Administration of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is another post in our battle to overcome the crisis our country is suffering today,” President-elect Joe Biden said in a statement.
What’s the distinction between Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccines?
Both shots are supposedly mRNA vaccines, made with groundbreaking new technology. They don’t contain any coronavirus – suggesting they cannot cause disease. Rather, they use a piece of generative code that trains the immune system to see the head protein on the surface of the virus, ready to attack if the real person comes along.
Early results show both vaccines appear safe and well protective, although Moderna’s is easier to work since it doesn’t require to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures.
Both the new Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart. The following dose must be from the same group as the first.
The vaccinated can’t stop using their masks as it’s not yet clear either vaccine prevents silent, symptomless virus spread. But there was a signal that Moderna’s shot may provide some shelter on an asymptomatic infection.
The Moderna study revealed no major lock problems. Like with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, expect sore limbs, fever, fatigue and muscle aches, which are signs the immune system is revving up.
Both vaccines remain innovative, and rights are strictly monitoring safety in case problems crop up.