COVID-19 Vaccine Ingredients: Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna Composition Breakdown.pdf

Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna Comparisons

This summary details the ingredients in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting their functions.

Key Takeaways:

Both vaccines use mRNA technology to teach our cells how to produce a protein that triggers an immune response against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).
They are both highly effective (95% for Pfizer, 94% for Moderna) and require two doses.
Common Ingredients: Both vaccines contain similar salts (for pH balance), sugars (for stability), and lipids (for delivering mRNA to cells).

Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Ingredients:

Messenger RNA (mRNA): Carries genetic instructions for making a spike protein found on the surface of the virus.
Nanolipids: Tiny fat molecules that protect mRNA and help it enter cells. Components include:
((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate),
2 [(polyethylene glycol)-2000]­N,N-ditetradecylacetamide,
1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and
Cholesterol.
Potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, and sucrose: Help maintain the vaccine's stability and pH balance.

Moderna Vaccine Ingredients:

Messenger RNA (mRNA): Similar to Pfizer, it teaches cells to produce a spike protein.
Nanolipids: Comprise:
SM-102
Polyethylene glycol [PEG] 2000 dimyristoyl glycerol [DMG]
Cholesterol
1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [DSPC]
* Tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate, and sucrose: Maintain the vaccine's stability.

Both Vaccines Exclude: Eggs, Preservatives, Latex