Reactions and Side Effects of Moderna: What You Need to Know

Today, the 50,000 doses of the American "Moderna" company's "Spikevax" vaccine donated by the Lithuanian government have arrived in Armenia. There are many rumors surrounding the Moderna vaccine, promoted by Armenian-American businessman and philanthropist Noubar Afeyan, so we have tried to understand what the vaccine is about, how, and when it can be obtained.

Features of Moderna
The vaccine has been developed by the American National Institutes of Health's Allergy and Infectious Diseases division. Moderna is what is known as an RNA (mRNA) vaccine, which carries a part of the virus's genetic code, prompting the human immune system to produce antibodies on its own. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is similar in mechanism.

The vaccine is administered in two doses. The second injection is recommended to take place 28 days after the first, although it can be extended to 42 days if necessary. The production of antibodies in individuals occurs without noticeable effects, but sometimes there may be pain at the injection site or an increase in temperature after vaccination. This is normal. Subsequently, a certain immunity to the disease is formed.

Moderna has been approved by the World Health Organization.

Effectiveness of Moderna
The Moderna vaccine is highly effective at preventing COVID-19 among the majority of vaccinated individuals. Registration research has shown that the vaccine's average effectiveness is about 95%. According to the results, the vaccine protects younger age groups (19 to 65 years) by 96%, which is even better than among those over 65 years (86%). The vaccine also significantly reduces the risk of severe disease progression (for instance, hospitalizations due to respiratory failure).

How often revaccination is necessary, similar to the flu vaccines, is currently unknown and is being studied in clinical research.

Vaccine Reactions and Side Effects
The body's reactions to the vaccine and other side effects can occur with any vaccinations, including against coronavirus, regardless of the pathogen or vaccine used. Reactions may occur after vaccination with the Moderna vaccine; however, they generally pass after some time. Overall, reports on side effects indicate that people commonly complain of pain at the injection site (92%), fatigue (70%), headache (65%), muscle pain (62%), joint pain (46%), chills (45%), nausea/vomiting (23%), swelling or lymph node disease (20%), elevated body temperature (16%), swelling and redness at the injection site (15% and 10%, respectively). Typically, adverse reactions are mild or moderate and resolve a few days after vaccination, whereas older individuals report fewer side effects than younger ones. Reports of local or systemic side effects are more frequent after the second dose of the vaccine.

Who Should Be Vaccinated First
As with other COVID-19 vaccines, priority should be given to health care workers and the elderly who are at higher risk of infection. As vaccines become available, individuals in other primary categories of the population, especially the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and those least protected by health services, should be vaccinated first.

Should Pregnant Women Be Vaccinated?
The WHO recommends using this COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women when the benefits of vaccination outweigh potential risks, taking into account the severity of COVID-19 during pregnancy, the potential benefits of vaccination in the current epidemiological context, and the safety of pregnant women. This information should be available to ensure safety and security for pregnant individuals. The WHO does not recommend pregnancy testing before vaccination. It also advises against delaying or terminating a pregnancy for vaccination-related reasons.