Lady smiling after receiving a vaccine injection in her arm.

Information About the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Moderna, Inc.

Name: mRNA-1273

Manufacturer: Moderna, Inc.

Type of vaccine: mRNA

What Is a mRNA Vaccine?

mRNA vaccines—also called Messenger RNA vaccines—are some of the first COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States.

mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the COVID-19 virus enters our bodies.

Moderna mRNA Vaccine

Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two doses who had no evidence of being previously infected.

Remember: mRNA vaccines do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19.

Number of Moderna COVID-19 shots required: 2 shots, one month (28 days) apart.

Administration: Shot is administered in the muscle of the upper arm.

Age Indications: 18 years of age or older.

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine does not contain:

  • Eggs
  • Preservatives
  • Latex

For a full list of ingredients, refer to Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers.

If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction—even if it was not severe—to a vaccine or injectable therapy for another disease, ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccine. Your doctor will help you decide if it is safe for you to get vaccinated.

Side Effects

Most common side effects:

  • Pain, swelling, or redness in the arm where you got the shot.
  • Chills, tiredness, or headache throughout the rest of your body.

These side effects usually start within a day or two of getting the vaccine. They might feel like flu symptoms and might even affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

There is a remote chance that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. For this reason, you will be required to stay for monitoring (typically 15-30 minutes) after receiving the vaccine.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Swelling of your face and throat.
  • A fast heartbeat.
  • A bad rash all over your body.
  • Dizziness and weakness.

These may not be all of the possible side effects of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Serious and unexpected side effects may occur. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is still being studied in clinical trials.

If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest hospital.

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