Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a molecule that encodes a sequence that can be made into a protein. Scientists first learned about mRNA nearly 60 years ago, and researchers have been studying vaccines using mRNA for decades. Learn more.
Covid-19 Vaccine
Image by torstensimon
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine
Image by Spencer Davis/Unsplash
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine
Image by Spencer Davis/Unsplash
Understanding COVID-19 MRNA Vaccines
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a molecule that encodes a sequence that can be made into a protein. Scientists first learned about mRNA nearly 60 years ago, and researchers have been studying vaccines using mRNA for decades. The earliest COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are mRNA vaccines.
Key Points
mRNA vaccines inject cells with instructions to generate a protein that is normally found on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The protein that the person makes in response to the vaccine can cause an immune response without a person ever having been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. Later, if the person is exposed to the virus, their immune system will recognize the virus and respond to it.
mRNA vaccines are safe and cannot alter your DNA, and you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine.
mRNA vaccines may seem to have arrived quickly, but this technology is built on decades of scientific research that have made these vaccines a reality.
Source: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Additional Materials (5)
mRNA vaccines, explained
Video by Vox/YouTube
mRNA Vaccines for COVID-19
Video by ASGCT/YouTube
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine: Everything Answered
Video by Demystifying Medicine/YouTube
How mRNA vaccines work
Video by Harvard University/YouTube
How Do mRNA Vaccines Work? Here's What You Should Know
Video by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/YouTube
6:48
mRNA vaccines, explained
Vox/YouTube
4:05
mRNA Vaccines for COVID-19
ASGCT/YouTube
6:15
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine: Everything Answered
Demystifying Medicine/YouTube
1:24
How mRNA vaccines work
Harvard University/YouTube
1:49
How Do mRNA Vaccines Work? Here's What You Should Know
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/YouTube
How Do They Work?
How does an mRNA vaccine work?
Image by genome.gov
How does an mRNA vaccine work?
mRNA acts as a cellular messenger. DNA, which is stored in a cell’s nucleus, encodes the genetic information for making proteins. mRNA transfers a copy of this genetic information outside of the nucleus, to a cell’s cytoplasm, where it is translated into amino acids by ribosomes and then folded into complete proteins. mRNA is a short-lived molecule, meaning it degrades easily and does not last long inside cells.
Image by genome.gov
How Does an MRNA Vaccine Work?
mRNA acts as a cellular messenger. DNA, which is stored in a cell’s nucleus, encodes the genetic information for making proteins. mRNA transfers a copy of this genetic information outside of the nucleus, to a cell’s cytoplasm, where it is translated into amino acids by ribosomes and then folded into complete proteins. mRNA is a short-lived molecule, meaning it degrades easily and does not last long inside cells.
By injecting cells with a synthetic mRNA that encodes a viral spike protein, an mRNA vaccine can direct human cells to make a viral spike protein and evoke an immune response without a person ever having been exposed to the viral material.
These viral spike proteins, or antigens, normally coat the surface of the virus and are recognized by antibodies and other immune cells that prepare and protect the body against the virus. If a person is later exposed to the virus, antibodies and other parts of the immune system can recognize and attack the virus before it can infect healthy cells or cause illness.
Source: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Additional Materials (4)
How do mRNA COVID-19 vaccines work?
Video by PBS NewsHour/YouTube
How mRNA Vaccines Work - Simply Explained
Video by Simply Explained/YouTube
How mRNA vaccines work
Video by Harvard University/YouTube
Decode from DNA to mRNA to tRNA to amino acids
Video by MooMooMath and Science/YouTube
2:28
How do mRNA COVID-19 vaccines work?
PBS NewsHour/YouTube
4:26
How mRNA Vaccines Work - Simply Explained
Simply Explained/YouTube
1:24
How mRNA vaccines work
Harvard University/YouTube
2:33
Decode from DNA to mRNA to tRNA to amino acids
MooMooMath and Science/YouTube
How MRNA Vaccines Work
How mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Work
Image by CDC
How mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Work
How mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Work
Image by CDC
How MRNA Vaccines Work
To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, mRNA vaccines use mRNA created in a laboratory to 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 real virus enters our bodies.
First, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are given in the upper arm muscle. The mRNA will enter the muscle cells and instruct the cells’ machinery to produce a harmless piece of what is called the spike protein. The spike protein is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. After the protein piece is made, our cells break down the mRNA and remove it.
Next, our cells display the spike protein piece on their surface. Our immune system recognizes that the protein doesn’t belong there. This triggers our immune system to produce antibodies and activate other immune cells to fight off what it thinks is an infection. This is what your body might do to fight off the infection if you got sick with COVID-19.
At the end of the process, our bodies have learned how to protect against future infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. The benefit of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, like all vaccines, is that those vaccinated gain this protection without ever having to risk the potentially serious consequences of getting sick with COVID-19. Any temporary discomfort experienced after getting the vaccine is a natural part of the process and an indication that the vaccine is working.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Additional Materials (4)
How mRNA vaccines work
Video by Harvard University/YouTube
How do mRNA COVID-19 vaccines work?
Video by PBS NewsHour/YouTube
Coronavirus spike proteins
Video by Thermo Scientific EM & Spectroscopy/YouTube
Your COVID Vaccine Questions Answered
Video by JAMA Network/YouTube
1:24
How mRNA vaccines work
Harvard University/YouTube
2:28
How do mRNA COVID-19 vaccines work?
PBS NewsHour/YouTube
1:15
Coronavirus spike proteins
Thermo Scientific EM & Spectroscopy/YouTube
7:52
Your COVID Vaccine Questions Answered
JAMA Network/YouTube
mRNA Vaccines vs Traditional Vaccines
Is the mRNA vaccine considered a vaccine?
Image by CDC
Is the mRNA vaccine considered a vaccine?
Is the mRNA vaccine considered a vaccine?
Image by CDC
How Are MRNA Vaccines Different From Traditional Vaccines?
Traditional vaccines work by giving a person either viral proteins or an inactivated or weakened version of a virus that triggers an immune response. mRNA vaccines do not contain viral material. Instead, these vaccines contain lipid or fat bubbles that surround a segment of mRNA, which provide cells with the instructions to make a certain viral protein.
Source: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Additional Materials (3)
mRNA vaccine versus adenovirus vaccine
Video by UNSW/YouTube
How viral vector and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines work
Video by Global News/YouTube
How Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Works (Animated Explainer)
Video by TomoNews US/YouTube
3:59
mRNA vaccine versus adenovirus vaccine
UNSW/YouTube
1:23
How viral vector and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines work
Global News/YouTube
5:12
How Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Works (Animated Explainer)
TomoNews US/YouTube
Can They Change Your DNA?
Messenger RNA
Image by Sverdrup at English Wikipedia
Messenger RNA
The interaction of mRNA in a cell.
Image by Sverdrup at English Wikipedia
Can MRNA Vaccines Change Your DNA?
No. There is no risk of an mRNA vaccine changing your DNA because mRNA does not have the ability to alter DNA. Your cells constantly make their own mRNA. The synthetic mRNA in the vaccine acts like any other mRNA that your cells make.
Source: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Additional Materials (2)
Can mRNA vaccines alter your DNA? - mRNA Vaccine - Moderna/Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
Video by MedicoVisual - Visual Medical Lectures/YouTube
DNA vs RNA (Updated)
Video by Amoeba Sisters/YouTube
21:52
Can mRNA vaccines alter your DNA? - mRNA Vaccine - Moderna/Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
MedicoVisual - Visual Medical Lectures/YouTube
6:31
DNA vs RNA (Updated)
Amoeba Sisters/YouTube
Safety and Effectiveness
Moderna Vial
Image by Air Force Senior Airman Madeline Herzog
Moderna Vial
A vial of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Dec. 29, 2020, when the 48th Medical Group conducted its first inoculations of health care workers with the vaccine.
Image by Air Force Senior Airman Madeline Herzog
Are FDA-Approved MRNA Vaccines Safe and Effective?
Yes. The FDA approval process involves careful review of clinical trial data to independently confirm that a vaccine is safe and effective. Two mRNA vaccines have been tested in large-scale clinical trials that included elderly and medically at-risk individuals; 30% of participants in these trials were from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Both vaccines have reported to result in a range of minor side effects, such as flu-like symptoms, that resolve within one or two days. mRNA vaccines do not contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus, so you cannot get COVID-19 from an mRNA vaccine.
Source: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Additional Materials (3)
COVID-19 Vaccine Safety: What You Need to Know (Updated)
Video by Denver Health/YouTube
Coronavirus mRNA Vaccine Safety and Efficacy
Video by JAMA Network/YouTube
What’s The Proof That BioNTech’s mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe?
Video by CNA Insider/YouTube
5:49
COVID-19 Vaccine Safety: What You Need to Know (Updated)
Denver Health/YouTube
9:37
Coronavirus mRNA Vaccine Safety and Efficacy
JAMA Network/YouTube
3:06
What’s The Proof That BioNTech’s mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe?
CNA Insider/YouTube
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Rigorously Evaluated for Safety
Covid Vaccine Risk
Image by Henrix_photos
Covid Vaccine Risk
Covid Vaccine Risk - Weighing whether you should have the vaccine?
Image by Henrix_photos
COVID-19 MRNA Vaccines Will Be Rigorously Evaluated for Safety
mRNA vaccines are safe and effective.
mRNA vaccines have been held to the same rigorous safety and effectiveness standards as all other types of vaccines in the United States. The only COVID-19 vaccines the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes available for use in the United States (by approval or emergency use authorization) are those that meet these standards.
While COVID-19 vaccines were developed rapidly, all steps have been taken to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer)
COVID-19 Vaccine, MRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech)
Also called: Comirnaty®, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, BNT162b2 Vaccine
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) is an mRNA vaccine approved for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and children 12 years of age and older. The vaccine is also available under EUA, for use in children 6 months through 11 years of age to prevent COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine, MRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech)
Also called: Comirnaty®, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, BNT162b2 Vaccine
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) is an mRNA vaccine approved for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and children 12 years of age and older. The vaccine is also available under EUA, for use in children 6 months through 11 years of age to prevent COVID-19.
Comirnaty is an mRNA vaccine for use in people 12 years of age and older to protect against COVID-19. mRNA vaccines use mRNA created in a laboratory to teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. The mRNA from the vaccines is broken down within a few days after vaccination and discarded from the body.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a vaccine for use in individuals 6 months through 11 years of age to prevent COVID-19. The FDA has authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine under an EUA.
The 2023-2024 formula is made the same way as Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Original monovalent) and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, but it encodes the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant lineage XBB.1.5 (Omicron XBB.1.5).
The vaccine may not protect all people who receive the vaccine. It does not contain SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Therefore, it cannot give you COVID-19.
You should not get Comirnaty if you had:
a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of Comirnaty or any Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in these vaccines (see What are the ingredients in Comirnaty?).
Before getting Comirnaty, tell your vaccination provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
have any allergies
had a severe allergic reaction after receiving a previous dose of any COVID-19 vaccine
have had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
have a fever
have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
are breastfeeding
have received another COVID-19 vaccine
have ever fainted in association with an injection
The vaccine is given as a shot in the muscle of the upper arm or in the thigh of a young child.
There is a remote chance that Comirnaty could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to 1 hour after getting a dose. For this reason, your vaccination provider may ask you to stay at the place where you received your vaccine for monitoring after vaccination. 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
Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have occurred in some people who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including Comirnaty and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. Myocarditis and pericarditis following Comirnaty have occurred most commonly in adolescent males 12 through 17 years of age. In most of these individuals, symptoms began within a few days following vaccination. The chance of having this occur is very low. You should seek medical attention right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms after receiving the vaccine, particularly during the 2 weeks after receiving a dose of the vaccine:
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart
Side effects that have been reported with Comirnaty or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines include:
Severe allergic reactions
Non-severe allergic reactions such as rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face
Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
Pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
Injection site reactions: pain, swelling, redness, arm pain
Fainting in association with injection of the vaccine
These may not be all the possible side effects of Comirnaty. Ask your healthcare provider about any side effects that concern you.
Report vaccine side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 1-800-822-7967 or report online to https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html.
Ingredients in Vaccine Formula for Children
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months–11 years contains only the following ingredients:
Type
Ingredient
Purpose
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)
Nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the viral spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2
Provides instructions the body uses to build a harmless piece of a protein from the virus that causes COVID-19. This protein causes an immune response that helps protect the body from getting sick with COVID-19 in the future.
Work together to help keep the vaccine molecules stable while the vaccine is manufactured, frozen, shipped, and stored until it is ready to be given to a vaccine recipient.
Ingredients in Vaccine Formula for Teens and Adults
Cominarty vaccine for teens and adults ages 12 years and older contains only the following ingredients:
Type
Ingredient
Purpose
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)
Nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the viral spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2
Provides instructions the body uses to build a harmless piece of a protein from the virus that causes COVID-19. This protein causes an immune response that helps protect the body from getting sick with COVID-19 in the future.
Work together to help keep the vaccine in good condition (molecules remain stable) while the vaccine is manufactured, frozen, shipped, and stored until it is ready to be given to a vaccine recipient.
Cominarty does not contain preservatives.
DailyMed - COMIRNATY- covid-19 vaccine, mrna injection, suspension [accessed on Oct 26, 2023]
DailyMed - PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE- covid-19 vaccine, mrna injection, suspension [accessed on Oct 26, 2023]
Overview of COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Feb 11, 2020 [accessed on Oct 26, 2023]
COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech). MedlinePlus/AHFS® Drug Information. [accessed on Feb 15, 2021]
These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech). If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
Additional Materials (18)
Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine: The refrigeration problem no one is talking about
Video by Global News/YouTube
The Vaccine to End the Pandemic?
Video by Real Science/YouTube
The Race To Develop A Coronavirus Vaccine
Video by CNBC/YouTube
COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine: everything you need to know
Video by Cambridge University/YouTube
Coronavirus Outbreak: When Will We Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?
Video by NBC New York/YouTube
Coronavirus Pandemic Update 54: COVID-19 Antibody vs. PCR Testing; When to Relax Social Distancing?
Video by MedCram - Medical Lectures Explained CLEARLY/YouTube
Coronavirus Vaccine: Drugmakers Test Ebola, HIV Medicines to Halt Virus
Video by Bloomberg Quicktake: Now/YouTube
Doctors testing coronavirus vaccine trial on healthy man
Video by CNN/YouTube
Development of the COVID-19 Vaccine
Video by Osmosis/YouTube
Will the COVID-19 vaccines be safe?
Video by Osmosis/YouTube
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Army Spc. Angel Laureano holds a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Dec. 14, 2020.
Image by Lisa Ferdinando, DOD
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Army Spc. Angel Laureano holds a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., Dec. 14, 2020.
Image by Lisa Ferdinando, DOD
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Robert Carpenter, 59th Medical Wing Immunizations Clinic licensed vocational nurse, prepares the San Antonio Military Health System’s first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Dec. 14, 2020, at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Vaccines fight disease by producing an immune response within the body. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux)
Image by U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Robert Carpenter, 59th Medical Wing Immunizations Clinic licensed vocational nurse, dilutes the San Antonio Military Health System’s first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine with saline solution, Dec. 14, 2020, at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The Department of Defense remains committed to protecting service members, civilian employees, and families while safeguarding national security capabilities and supporting the whole-of-nation response to the pandemic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux)
Image by U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Airman 1st Class Kimber Bernau, 59th Medical Wing Family Emergency Clinic medical technician, administers the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shot to Tech Sgt. Jason Bailey, Dec. 14, 2020, at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The Department of Defense is implementing a standardized and coordinated strategy for prioritizing, distributing, and administering the COVID-19 vaccine through a phased approach to all Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and all mission-essential DoD civilian employees and other personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux)
Image by U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Dec. 14, 2020, following the vaccine's emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.
Image by Lisa Ferdinando, DOD
COVID-19 Vaccine
Navy Seaman Gabriel Cabral, assigned to the Naval Medical Center San Diego, administers the first-round of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to sailors and select Defense Department support staff at Naval Air Facility in EL Centro, Calif., March 4, 2021. The mission of NAF El Centro is to support the combat training and readiness of the warfighter.
Image by Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew Verbis
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Navy Seaman Milan Torres prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to a patient at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Dec. 14, 2020.
Image by Lisa Ferdinando, DOD
1:52
Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine: The refrigeration problem no one is talking about
Global News/YouTube
13:26
The Vaccine to End the Pandemic?
Real Science/YouTube
10:15
The Race To Develop A Coronavirus Vaccine
CNBC/YouTube
6:18
COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine: everything you need to know
Cambridge University/YouTube
17:40
Coronavirus Outbreak: When Will We Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?
NBC New York/YouTube
15:47
Coronavirus Pandemic Update 54: COVID-19 Antibody vs. PCR Testing; When to Relax Social Distancing?
MedCram - Medical Lectures Explained CLEARLY/YouTube
0:59
Coronavirus Vaccine: Drugmakers Test Ebola, HIV Medicines to Halt Virus
Bloomberg Quicktake: Now/YouTube
3:23
Doctors testing coronavirus vaccine trial on healthy man
CNN/YouTube
4:42
Development of the COVID-19 Vaccine
Osmosis/YouTube
4:40
Will the COVID-19 vaccines be safe?
Osmosis/YouTube
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Lisa Ferdinando, DOD
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Lisa Ferdinando, DOD
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Lisa Ferdinando, DOD
COVID-19 Vaccine
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew Verbis
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Lisa Ferdinando, DOD
COVID-19 Vaccine (Moderna)
COVID-19 Vaccine, MRNA (Moderna)
Also called: Spikevax®, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna mRNA-1273 Vaccine
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax) is an mRNA vaccine approved for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and children 12 years of age and older. The vaccine is also available under EUA, for use in children 6 months through 11 years of age to prevent COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine, MRNA (Moderna)
Also called: Spikevax®, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna mRNA-1273 Vaccine
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax) is an mRNA vaccine approved for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and children 12 years of age and older. The vaccine is also available under EUA, for use in children 6 months through 11 years of age to prevent COVID-19.
Spikevax is an mRNA vaccine for use in people 12 years of age and older to protect against COVID-19. mRNA vaccines use mRNA created in a laboratory to teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. The mRNA from the vaccines is broken down within a few days after vaccination and discarded from the body.
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a vaccine for use in individuals 6 months through 11 years of age to prevent COVID-19. The FDA has authorized the emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine under an EUA.
The 2023-2024 formula is made the same way as the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Original monovalent) and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, but it encodes the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant lineage XBB.1.5 (Omicron XBB.1.5).
The vaccine may not protect all people who receive the vaccine. It does not contain SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Therefore, it cannot give you COVID-19.
You should not get Spikevax if you had:
a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of Spikevax, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Original monovalent), or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent
a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine (see What are the ingredients in Spikevax?)
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
have any allergies
had a severe allergic reaction after receiving a previous dose of any COVID-19 vaccine
have had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
have a fever
have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
are breastfeeding
have received any other COVID-19 vaccine
have ever fainted in association with an injection
The vaccine is given as a shot in the muscle of the upper arm or in the thigh of a young child.
Severe allergic reactions have occurred in some people who have received Spikevax, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Original monovalent), and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent. There is a very small chance that Spikevax could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to 1 hour after getting a dose of Spikevax. For this reason, your healthcare provider may ask you to stay for a short time at the place where you received your vaccine. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:
Trouble breathing
Swelling of your face and throat
A fast heartbeat
A rash all over your body
Dizziness and weakness
Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have occurred in some people who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including Spikevax, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Original monovalent), and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent. Myocarditis and pericarditis following Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have occurred, most commonly in males 18 years through 24 years of age. In most of these individuals, symptoms began within a few days following vaccination. The chance of having this occur is very low. You should seek medical attention right away if you or your child has any of the following symptoms after receiving the vaccine, particularly during the 2 weeks after receiving a dose of the vaccine:
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart
Side effects that have been reported in clinical trials with Spikevax, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Original monovalent), and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent include:
Injection site reactions: pain, tenderness and swelling of the lymph nodes in the same arm of the injection, swelling (hardness), and redness
General side effects: fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, nausea and vomiting, fever, and rash
Other side effects that have been reported include:
Severe allergic reactions
Urticaria (itchy rash/hives)
Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
Pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
Fainting in association with injection of the vaccine
These may not be all of the possible side effects of Spikevax. Ask your healthcare provider about any side effects that concern you. You may report side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-800-822-7967 or HTTPS://VAERS.HHS.GOV.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older contains only the following ingredients:
Type
Ingredient
Purpose
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)
Nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the viral spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2
Provides instructions the body uses to build a harmless piece of a protein from the virus that causes COVID-19. This protein causes an immune response that helps protect the body from getting sick with COVID-19 in the future.
Acetic acid (the main ingredient in white household vinegar)
Work together to help keep the vaccine in good condition (molecules remain stable) while the vaccine is manufactured, frozen, shipped, and stored until it is ready to be given to a vaccine recipient.
Spikevax does not contain preservatives.
DailyMed - SPIKEVAX- covid-19 vaccine, mrna injection, suspension [accessed on Oct 26, 2023]
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines | FDA. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [accessed on Oct 26, 2023]
COVID-19 Vaccine (Moderna). MedlinePlus/AHFS® Drug Information. [accessed on Feb 13, 2021]
These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA (Moderna). If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
Additional Materials (17)
Coronavirus Update 117: Moderna vs. Pfizer COVID 19 Vaccine (mRNA vaccines)
Video by MedCram - Medical Lectures Explained CLEARLY/YouTube
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
Air Force Senior Airman Caleb McCain draws a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., Feb. 7, 2021. More than 250 airmen voluntarily received the first dose of the two-part Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series.
Image by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lauren Kelly
What to expect from Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine
Video by CBS News/YouTube
mRNA-3704 and Methylmalonic Acidemia
Video by Moderna/YouTube
CDC to use v-safe text message tool to track COVID-19 vaccine side effects
Video by MedCram - Medical Lectures Explained CLEARLY/YouTube
What's Up With That Russian Vaccine? | SciShow News
Video by SciShow/YouTube
COVID-19 Vaccine
Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Basa, 19th Medical Group aerospace medical technician, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., Jan 14, 2021. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is given in two doses and is 94.1% effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Image by Air Force Senior Airman Aaron Irvin
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (2020)
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (2020)
Image by Baltimore County Government
COVID-19 Vaccine
Army Capt. Alyssa Balzer, an officer in charge at Public Health Activity-Japan, receives a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Keating Beach, assigned to U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka Branch Health Clinic Sasebo onboard Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, Jan. 26, 2021. Administration of the vaccine is priority based and will occur in phases starting with health care and emergency service personnel (Phase 1a) and ending with healthy members of the base population (Phase 3).
Image by Phase 3
Moderna Vaccine
Doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are ready to be administered to airmen of the 163d Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., Jan. 9, 2021. Military members can receive the vaccine voluntarily, and the initial doses have been prioritized for airmen on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Image by Air Force Master Sgt. Julianne M. Showalter
Moderna Vial
A vial of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Dec. 29, 2020, when the 48th Medical Group conducted its first inoculations of health care workers with the vaccine.
Image by Air Force Senior Airman Madeline Herzog
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COVID-19 Vaccine
Air Force Senior Airman Aaron Irvin
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (2020)
Baltimore County Government
COVID-19 Vaccine
Phase 3
Moderna Vaccine
Air Force Master Sgt. Julianne M. Showalter
Moderna Vial
Air Force Senior Airman Madeline Herzog
How Were They Produced So Quickly?
SARS-CoV-2 virus sequenced (Image 1 of 5)
Spike protein gene selected as vaccine candidate (Image 2 of 5)
Synthetic spike protein gene inserted into a plasmid (Image 3 of 5)
Produce mRNA mimicking human biological processes (Image 4 of 5)
Produce the mRNA vaccine (Image 5 of 5)
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COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Production
Interactive by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
SARS-CoV-2 virus sequenced (Image 1 of 5)
Spike protein gene selected as vaccine candidate (Image 2 of 5)
Synthetic spike protein gene inserted into a plasmid (Image 3 of 5)
Produce mRNA mimicking human biological processes (Image 4 of 5)
Produce the mRNA vaccine (Image 5 of 5)
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2
3
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COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Production
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers used state-of-the-art genomic sequencers to quickly sequence the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Interactive by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
How Have MRNA Vaccines Been Produced So Rapidly?
One of the most exciting aspects of mRNA technology is how rapidly it can be developed to target a particular virus. While traditional vaccines can take years, creating an mRNA-based vaccine that targets a newly discovered virus can be accomplished in a short period of time (days to weeks to make the new vaccine candidate) and primarily requires knowledge of the viral genetic code. This greatly speeds up vaccine development. mRNA vaccines are built on decades of scientific research. For example, NHGRI has long supported research into the development of nucleotide synthesis technologies that allowed for the creation of synthetic RNA and DNA. With the viral sequence in hand, these technologies have been used to make mRNA vaccines a rapid reality.
Source: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Additional Materials (2)
Why It Actually Took 50 Years to Make COVID mRNA Vaccines
Video by SciShow/YouTube
How the COVID-19 vaccines were created so quickly - Kaitlyn Sadtler and Elizabeth Wayne
Video by TED-Ed/YouTube
12:26
Why It Actually Took 50 Years to Make COVID mRNA Vaccines
SciShow/YouTube
5:08
How the COVID-19 vaccines were created so quickly - Kaitlyn Sadtler and Elizabeth Wayne
TED-Ed/YouTube
MRNA Vaccines Have Been Studied for Decades
COVID-19 Vaccines
Image by CDC
COVID-19 Vaccines
Image by CDC
MRNA Vaccines Are Newly Available to the Public But Have Been Studied for Decades
Researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades. Interest has grown in these vaccines because they can be developed in a laboratory using readily available materials. This means vaccines can be developed and produced in large quantities faster than with other methods for making vaccines.
mRNA vaccines have been studied before for flu, Zika, rabies, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). As soon as the necessary information about the virus that causes COVID-19 was available, scientists began designing the mRNA instructions for cells to build the unique spike protein into an mRNA vaccine.
Future mRNA vaccine technology may allow for one vaccine to provide protection against multiple diseases, thus decreasing the number of shots needed for protection against common vaccine-preventable diseases.
Beyond vaccines, cancer research has used mRNA to trigger the immune system to target specific cancer cells.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Additional Materials (3)
How Vaccines Are Made and Manufactured | mRNA-Based Platform
Video by Sartorius/YouTube
COVID-19 Vaccine: mRNA and Why It Matters
Video by Houston Methodist/YouTube
mRNA Vaccines for COVID-19
Video by ASGCT/YouTube
3:39
How Vaccines Are Made and Manufactured | mRNA-Based Platform
Sartorius/YouTube
2:51
COVID-19 Vaccine: mRNA and Why It Matters
Houston Methodist/YouTube
4:05
mRNA Vaccines for COVID-19
ASGCT/YouTube
COVID-19 MRNA Vaccine Production
Produce the mRNA vaccine (Image 5 of 5)
Image by genome.gov
Produce the mRNA vaccine (Image 5 of 5)
mRNA is a fragile molecule, so researchers put it into a fatty lipid bilayer, which protects it while the vaccine is packaged, shipped and administered. This bilayer easily attaches to our cells once the vaccine is given, which efficiently delivers the mRNA and starts the immunization process. Currently, mRNA vaccines needs to be kept very cold or else they will degrade. This adds a layer of logistical complexity to the distribution mRNA vaccines.
Image by genome.gov
COVID-19 MRNA Vaccine Production
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers used state-of-the-art genomic sequencers to quickly sequence the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This sequence was quickly shared with other researchers. This allowed researchers from across the globe to analyze the virus and better understand how it causes disease. The speed of this crucial first step enabled the immediate research and development of viable vaccine candidates.
Once researchers analyzed the viral sequence using cutting edge bioinformatics approaches, they selected the spike protein gene as their vaccine candidate. The spike protein is essential for the virus to attach to the host cell, thereby making it an effective antigen, or target for the immune system to recognize and attack. The genetic sequence is then optimized for the vaccine based on years of previous research on coronaviruses. Understanding the viral genome also allows researchers to update the vaccine if they detect new strains of the virus that may require a new versions of the vaccine.
The target spike protein gene is then synthetically manufactured and inserted into in a plasmid, or a small, circular piece of DNA. Plasmids are used in mRNA vaccine production because they are easy to replicate (copy) and reliably contain the target gene sequence. Once a sequence is selected, a new plasmid can be produced within a couple of weeks, allowing new mRNA vaccines to be tested and distributed rapidly.
Researchers then use established in-vitro (laboratory-based, such as in a test tube) protocols to create mRNA in a method that mimics our own biological processes. First, they separate the two strands of plasmid DNA. Then, RNA polymerase, the molecule that transcribes RNA from DNA, uses the spike protein gene to create a single mRNA molecule. This is nearly identical to the way genes in our bodies are transcribed. Finally, other molecules break down the rest of the plasmid to ensure that only the mRNA is packaged as a vaccine. The speed and efficiency of this process can make large amounts of mRNA in a short period of time.
mRNA is a fragile molecule, so researchers put it into a fatty lipid bilayer, which protects it while the vaccine is packaged, shipped and administered. This bilayer easily attaches to our cells once the vaccine is given, which efficiently delivers the mRNA and starts the immunization process. Currently, mRNA vaccines needs to be kept very cold or else they will degrade. This adds a layer of logistical complexity to the distribution mRNA vaccines.
Source: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
What You Need To Know
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Image by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded RNA molecule that is complementary to one of the DNA strands of a gene.
Image by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Facts About COVID-19 MRNA Vaccines
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines cannot give someone the virus that causes COVID-19 or other viruses.
mRNA vaccines do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19 and cannot cause infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 or other viruses.
They do not affect or interact with our DNA in any way.
mRNA never enters the nucleus of the cell where our DNA (genetic material) is located, so it cannot change or influence our genes.
The mRNA and the spike protein don’t last long in the body.
Our cells break down mRNA and get rid of it within a few days after vaccination.
Scientists estimate that the spike protein, like other proteins our bodies create, may stay in the body up to a few weeks.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Additional Materials (2)
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine: Everything Answered
Video by Demystifying Medicine/YouTube
How Do mRNA Vaccines Work? Here's What You Should Know
Video by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/YouTube
6:15
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine: Everything Answered
Demystifying Medicine/YouTube
1:49
How Do mRNA Vaccines Work? Here's What You Should Know
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/YouTube
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COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a molecule that encodes a sequence that can be made into a protein. Scientists first learned about mRNA nearly 60 years ago, and researchers have been studying vaccines using mRNA for decades. Learn more.