Now that three U.S. FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed, millions of people are being vaccinated. Below are some quick facts about each of these vaccines.

COVID-19 Vaccine Facts

Vaccine name/manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson

Type of vaccine: Viral Vector

How it works: Teaches the immune system to attack the protein the virus uses to infect other cells. The instructions are carried by a non-dangerous virus.

Effectiveness: 66%

Doses needed per person: 1 shot

FDA approved

 Vaccine name/manufacturer: Pfizer

Type of vaccine: RNA

How it works: Uses RNA to teach the immune system to target the virus’s surface, preventing infection.

Effectiveness: 95%

Doses needed per person: 2 shots, three weeks apart

FDA approved

Vaccine name/manufacturer: Moderna

Type of vaccine: RNA

How it works: Uses RNA to teach the immune system to target the virus’s surface, preventing infection.

Effectiveness: 94.5%

Doses needed per person: 2 shots, four weeks apart

FDA approved

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This entry was originally published on Life Beyond Hepatitis C on March 10, 2021 and is reprinted with permission.