New study confirms Moderna vaccine is more effective than Pfizer

According to a report released on Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vaccine against laboratory coronavirus Modern is more effective in preventing hospitalizations than drugs produced by Pfizer.

The study analyzed 3,689 adults hospitalized with severe cases during the peak period of the delta variant in the north of the country (March 11 and August 15, 2021). The results showed that the vaccine of Modern was 93% effective against hospitalization, that of Pfizer 88% and J&J 68%.

At the same time, it was established that, in the case of the latter, the loss of efficacy against hospitalization was particularly pronounced: it went from 91% between 14 and 120 days after vaccination to 77% more than 120 days after vaccination. the vaccination. On the contrary, Modern it went from 93% to 92% by comparing the same two periods.

The study also included a separate analysis of the levels of different types of antibodies generated by the vaccines, taken from 100 volunteers. The vaccine Modern elicited higher antibody levels than Pfizer and J&J for a key part of the virus spike protein, which it uses to invade cells.

A growing body of research suggests the superiority of the modern vaccine over that of Pfizer, including an earlier CDC study released last week. The reasons are not entirely clear, the researchers say, but it could be because the dose levels are higher: 100 micrograms versus 30 at Pfizer.

It could also be related to the interval of administration, as injections of Pfizer are given three weeks apart, while Moderna are given four weeks apart.