Recipients of the Pfizer vaccine who are planning on receiving a booster shot may want to consider Moderna instead of a Pfizer, a new study suggests.
From January to July, a study on 50,000 Mayo Clinic patients was conducted to determine the effectiveness of both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against the delta variant. The data was released on Aug. 9.
Researchers discovered that with the growing prevalence of transmissible viral variants, the effectiveness of both vaccines lowered in July. However, Mayo patients vaccinated with Moderna were about half as likely to contract the COVID-19 delta variant than patients vaccinated with Pfizer.
It is important to realize that most vaccines are not 100% effective, the authors of the study reminded the public. For example, the estimated effectiveness of the flu vaccine has ranged from 19% - 60% over the past decade.
Even though the CDC does not currently recommend that fully vaccinated Americans receive a booster shot, the San Francisco Department of Public Health began administering them last week.
The study has not yet been peer-reviewed.
