What do we know about the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine?

The Moderna vaccine will be going into arms from as early as next month after the TGA gave the green tick of approval. Here’s what we know about the vaccine.

Vials of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: AFP

The Moderna mRNA vaccine is the third Covid-19 vaccine to be given approval by the TGA, and is expected to play a significant role in the vaccination rollout, with the federal government securing 25 million doses.

At least 10 million are set to hit Australian shores by December. They will be doses of the vaccine’s existing formula and serve as back-up if there are delays with additional Pfizer jabs. A further 15 million doses of an updated, variant-targeting shot will arrive next year, with the majority of these set to be used as booster shots for people who have already had Pfizer or AstraZeneca.

How does it work?

The Moderna vaccine, like the Pfizer jab, is a messenger RNA vaccine which works by teaching cells how to make a protein in order to trigger an immune response. This is unlike AstraZeneca, which is a viral vector vaccine that uses a harmless virus as a delivery system to create antibodies to fight off infection. Similar to Pfizer, Moderna requires two doses, four weeks apart.

How effective is it?

Moderna released official data in early August showing the overall efficacy of the vaccine against Covid-19 symptoms is 93 per cent. It is 94 per cent effective at preventing serious illness from the coronavirus, and 100 per cent effective at preventing death.

Who will get it?

While there has been no formal announcement of which age group will get the vaccine, it has been approved for use in people aged 18 years and over. The TGA is currently reviewing data which supports its use for people aged 12 to 17, with a further decision on that cohort expected in the coming weeks.

Are there any risks?

Health authorities have been closely monitoring any risks associated with the Moderna vaccine and have found it has similar side effects to that of the Pfizer jab. These include normal vaccine side effects including pain in the arm where the shot is administered, muscle pain, fever and chills.

Who else is using it?

The Moderna vaccine has already been approved by several foreign regulatory bodies, including in Britain, Canada, the European Union, the US and Singapore.

As an American-based company, it has been rolled out widely in the US, where more than 140 million doses have been administered since it was granted emergency approval last December.

Britain has purchased 17 million doses, which it began rolling out in April.