As of mid-December 2020, the COVID-19 vaccine from the Biontech/Pfizer cooperation showed significant lower rates of severe adverse events than Moderna's product, with the exception of chills where Moderna showed a lower rate. During November, both sites reported nearly the exact same efficacy of around 95 percent of their vaccines.
Severe adverse events in COVID-19 vaccines developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna as of December 2020*
Characteristic
BioNTech/Pfizer (BNT162b2)
Moderna (mRNA-1273)
Fatigue
4.6
10.6
Myalgia
2.2
10
Arthralgia
1
5.8
Headache
3.2
5
Chills
2.1
1.5
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Percentage of vaccinated4.64.62.22.2113.23.22.12.110.610.610105.85.8551.51.5BioNTech/Pfizer (BNT162b2)Moderna (mRNA-1273)FatigueMyalgiaArthralgiaHeadacheChills
02.557.51012.5
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Evaluate Vantage. (December 15, 2020). Severe adverse events in COVID-19 vaccines developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna as of December 2020* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193695/covid-vaccine-moderna-vs-biontech-severe-adverse-events/
Evaluate Vantage. "Severe adverse events in COVID-19 vaccines developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna as of December 2020*." Chart. December 15, 2020. Statista. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193695/covid-vaccine-moderna-vs-biontech-severe-adverse-events/
Evaluate Vantage. (2020). Severe adverse events in COVID-19 vaccines developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna as of December 2020*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193695/covid-vaccine-moderna-vs-biontech-severe-adverse-events/
Evaluate Vantage. "Severe Adverse Events in Covid-19 Vaccines Developed by Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna as of December 2020*." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Dec 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193695/covid-vaccine-moderna-vs-biontech-severe-adverse-events/
Evaluate Vantage, Severe adverse events in COVID-19 vaccines developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna as of December 2020* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193695/covid-vaccine-moderna-vs-biontech-severe-adverse-events/ (last visited February 20, 2025)
Severe adverse events in COVID-19 vaccines developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna as of December 2020* [Graph], Evaluate Vantage, December 15, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193695/covid-vaccine-moderna-vs-biontech-severe-adverse-events/
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