Difference Between Sinovac Vaccine and Moderna Vaccine

What are Sinovac vaccine and Moderna vaccine?

Both are COVID-19 vaccines and at present globally being administered to global health workers and other front-end workers who are at an increased risk of virus exposure. However, Moderna vaccine is more efficient in comparison to Sinovac. 

Similarity

Similarities between Sinovac vaccine and Moderna vaccine include; 

1. Administered as COVID-19 vaccines
2. Both cause side-effects which are short-lived and minor

Sinovac vaccine

This vaccine is developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech (Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company). The vaccine is known as CoronaVac. As of now, the vaccine is 50.4 percent effective in Brazilian clinical trials. The vaccine has showed 91.25 percent efficacy in Turkey trials and 65.3 percent efficacy in Indonesia trials.

Sinovac vaccine is being used by the general masses of the Republic of China by China’s medical products regulator.

Brazil, Laos, Colombia, Chile and Uruguay have announced to use CoronaVac vaccine by China’s Sinovac company by granting it an emergency authorization. Sinovac vaccine showed some mild adverse side-effects detected in its phase 3 trials. However, the company denied serious complications and reactions reported in Turkey, Indonesia and Brazil.  

Moderna Vaccine

The initial results from Moderna’s vaccine were described two months ago by the United States’ leading expert on contagious/infectious diseases Anthony Fauci as “amazingly impressive”.

It has been developed by the US company and has received $2.48 billion in US federal funds. This vaccine is very effective and very safe in individual’s with existing medical complications with an elevated risk of chronic illnesses like blood sugar, hypertension, severe infections, asthma, liver and kidney disease. 

The vaccine is not advised and recommended by medical authorities to individuals younger than eighteen years of age due to unavailability of further studies.

The Moderna vaccine has been approved by EMA – European Medicines Agency (EMA) and has also confirmed meeting World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) criteria for SAGE (Strategic Advisory Group of Experts) consideration.

The EMA has thoroughly assessed the data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, due to its ninety four percent efficacy and safety is being used all across the EU – European Union.  

People should be careful as it is not advised to individuals who suffer from allergies. So, people who experience severe allergic reaction to the first dosage of the vaccine should not go for the second additional dose.  

Difference between Sinovac vaccine andModerna Vaccine

Description/How does the vaccine work?

Sinovac vaccine

Sinovac’s vaccine (Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company) makes use of inactivated vaccine technology, which uses a fragile and not so strong form of a live virus to invigorate our bodies to release an immune response. This Sinovac vaccine is similar to the flu and chickenpox vaccines. 

Moderna Vaccine

The Moderna vaccine (mRNA-1273) uses mRNA technology. 

Cost

Sinovac vaccine

The cost is around 13.6 USD – 30 USD.

Moderna Vaccine

The cost is around 25 USD – 37 USD.

Type

Sinovac vaccine

Inactivated

Moderna Vaccine

mRNA – The Moderna COVID-19 (mRNA-1273) vaccine

Study location

Sinovac vaccine

International (Developed in China)

Moderna Vaccine

United States (Massachusetts)

Side effects

Sinovac vaccine

• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Headaches 
• Sore arms and fevers are common
• Tenderness and redness near the shot area

Moderna Vaccine

This vaccine has proved to be very effective. However, people have experienced some side-effects especially after the second dose. These side-effects include;

• Tenderness and redness near the shot area
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Nausea and puking
• Pain in the arm
• Lymph nodes ger swollen

Vaccine dosage

Sinovac vaccine

Either 3 μg or 6 μg, at days 0, 7 and 14 (i.e two boosters)

Moderna Vaccine

Either 10 μg or 100 μg, at Day 0 and again at day 28

Neutralizing antibody response

Sinovac vaccine

Could be still rising at week 3

Moderna Vaccine

Peak at week 6, stronger with 100 μg

Storage

Sinovac vaccine

Sinovac vaccine can be stored at normal/standard refrigerator temperatures that is 2 degrees – 8 degrees C and are expected to remain stable for around 3 years. Considering this could be an attractive choice for areas where access to cold temperatures (refrigeration) is difficult and challenging.  

Moderna Vaccine

Moderna vaccine can be stored for thirty days with refrigeration, 6 months at -20 degrees C.

Summary

The points of difference between Sinovac vaccine and Moderna vaccine have been summarized as below:

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