How Long Will Moderna Vaccine Protect You From Getting COVID-19?

By Neil P. First Posted: Jan 08, 2021 03:40 AM EST

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel revealed at a virtual event on Thursday how long the firm's COVID-19 vaccine might prevent infection against the infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus.

(Photo : Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Moderna is the second biotechnology company that received its emergency used authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just one week after giving the same to the Pfizer-BioNTech. Both companies are using the same technology in developing the vaccine.

Despite the vaccine's development that will help end the global pandemic, many are still worried and do not want to get vaccinated since there were reports of allergic reactions after getting vaccinated recently.

Moderna announced that its COVID-19 vaccine gives 94.1 percent efficacy while 100 percent efficacy for severe cases. The company added that its vaccine is close to proving that it is effective against the new variant of COVID-19, Reuters reported.

Protection Efficacy of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

During the virtual event by financial service group Oddo BHF, Moderna's CEO Stephane Bancel said the once-believed nightmare scenario that the vaccine will not work is now out of the window. The CEO said: We believe there will be protection potentially for a couple of years."

Bancel further noted that the "antibody decay generated by the vaccine in humans goes down very slowly," according to a published article of CBS News. However, there are still questions about the case of elderly patients because, as is true with every virus, their immune system goes down over time.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) admitted that reinfection for COVID-19 is possible. It is the reason why they encouraged those who got infected to get vaccinated. The CDC also revealed that it is still unclear how long natural immunity or the immunity someone gains from having an infection will last.

The agency noted that natural immunity varies from person to person, and several pieces of evidence suggest it may not last very long for COVID-19.

Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 Vaccines

Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech used the same technology in developing their vaccine. Their initial results during their Stage 3 human clinical trial showed that their vaccines are safe and effective. It shows above the 50 percent safety and efficacy rate set by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these vaccines are administrated in different ways.

The Pfizer-BioNTech's second vaccine shot would be given three weeks after the first shot, while Moderna's vaccine will be given four weeks after. The CDC said that those who received the first shot should get the second shot to boost the vaccine's effectiveness. The next dose must also be from the same company as the first.

Meanwhile, the agency recently released a new guideline that those who got allergic reactions after receiving the vaccine should immediately report and not get the second shot. They added that those who have histories of allergic reactions should consult first their doctors before getting the vaccine.