FEATURE| VACCInformation: A Quick Guide to COVID - 19 Vaccines

FEATURE| VACCInformation: A Quick Guide to COVID - 19 Vaccines

by: Anthea D. Reformado

It is truly alarming how the Philippines is experiencing a continuous increase in COVID-19 cases. Due to the pandemic, people deal with uncertainty and fear of being exposed to the virus.

That is why it is important to take precautionary measures to protect yourself, your family, and your friends.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines train our immune system to recognize the targeted virus and create antibodies to fight off the disease without getting the disease itself.

After vaccination, the body is ready to fight the virus if it is later exposed to it, thus preventing illness.

COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe and highly effective as they undergo extensive clinical trials. Vaccines save millions of lives each year.

Being vaccinated does not mean only protecting oneself, but also the people in the community who are unable to be vaccinated.

Here is a quick guide on the list of COVID-19 vaccines with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approvals by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

VACCINE NAME: BNT162b2 / Comirnaty

MANUFACTURER: Pfizer - BioNTech COUNTRY OF

VACCINE DEVELOPER: US, Germany

TYPE OF VACCINE: Encapsulated mRNA Vaccine

AGE GROUP COVERED: 12 years of age and older

EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 95% against symptomatic

COVID-19 PRICE: P2,379 for 2 doses

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 21 days apart

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: -80°C to -60°C

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, headache, nausea, chills, and fever.

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: January 14, 2021

VACCINE NAME: ChAdOx1 / AZD1222

MANUFACTURER: Oxford - AstraZeneca

COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: UK, Sweden

TYPE OF VACCINE: Viral Vector Vaccine (Non - replicating)

AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older

EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 81.3% against symptomatic

COVID-19 PRICE: P610 for 2 doses

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 4-12 weeks apart

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: -25°C - 15°C for 7 months, +2°C - 8°C for 30 days

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain and tenderness at the injected site, fever, headache, fatigue, chills, and muscle ache.

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: January 28, 2021

VACCINE NAME: Sinovac - CoronaVac

MANUFACTURER: Sinovac

COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: China

TYPE OF VACCINE: Inactivated Virus Vaccine

AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older

EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 83.5% against symptomatic

COVID-19 PRICE: P3,629.50 for 2 doses

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 28 days apart

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: +2°C - 8°C

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Fatigue, headache, muscle pain (mild symptoms)

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: February 22, 2021

VACCINE NAME: Sputnik V / Gam-COVID-Vac

MANUFACTURER: Gamaleya Sputnik V

COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: Russia

TYPE OF VACCINE: Viral Vector Vaccine (Non - replicating)

AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older

EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 91.6% against symptomatic COVID-19

PRICE: P1,220 for 2 doses

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 21-42 days apart

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: -18°C below

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, colds

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: March 19, 2021

VACCINE NAME: Ad26.COV2.S1 / JNJ-78436735

MANUFACTURER: Janssen / Johnson & Johnson

COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: US

TYPE OF VACCINE: Viral Vector Vaccine (Non - replicating)

AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older

EFFICACY: 85.4% against severe COVID-19, 66.9% against symptomatic COVID-19

PRICE: Approximately P487 for 1 dose

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 1 dose

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: 2°C - 8°C for 3 months

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, fever, chills, headache, nausea, fatigue.

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: April 19, 2021

VACCINE NAME: COVAXIN

MANUFACTURER: Bharat BioTech

COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: India

TYPE OF VACCINE: Inactivated Virus Vaccine

AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older

EFFICACY: 93.4% against severe COVID-19, 77.8% against symptomatic COVID-19

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 28 days apart

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: +2°C - 8°C

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, fatigue, nausea, body ache, fever

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: April 19, 2021

VACCINE NAME: mRNA-1273

MANUFACTURER: Moderna

COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: US

TYPE OF VACCINE: Encapsulated mRNA Vaccine

AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older

EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 94.1% against symptomatic COVID-19

PRICE: P3,904 - P4,504 for 2 doses

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 28 days apart

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: -25°C - 15°C for 7 months, +2°C - 8°C for 30 days

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: May 5, 2021

VACCINE NAME: BBIBP-CorV

MANUFACTURER: Sinopharm

COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: China

TYPE OF VACCINE: Inactivated Virus Vaccine

AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older

EFFICACY: 79% against severe & symptomatic COVID-19

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 21-28 days apart

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: +2°C - 8°C

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, headache

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: June 7, 2021

VACCINE NAME: NVX-CoV2373

MANUFACTURER: Novavax

COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: US

TYPE OF VACCINE: Protein Subunit

AGE GROUP COVERED: Awaiting EUA Approval

EFFICACY: 100% against hospitalization PRICE: P366 for 2 doses

NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 21 days apart

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: +2°C - 8°C

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, muscle pain, fatigue, fever

PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: Awaiting EUA Approval

In WHO’S Vaccine Explained Series, mild-to-moderate side effects caused by the vaccines, such as fever, pain or redness at the injection site are normal and should go away on their own within a few days.

The prices of different COVID-19 vaccine brands indicated above were from the data released by the Senate committee on finance chair Sonny Angara.

Always remember that the best vaccine is the one that is available to you. If you are eligible, get vaccinated.

Graphics by: Jasmine Bernadette Bembo