Is Moderna or Pfizer more effective as a booster?

[Choux]

Is there any evidence yet as to which is more effective as a booster? I read a dose of Moderna has more vaccine in it than Pfizer but that the UK booster was only half a dose.

I had AZ for my first and second doses. I can see several walk ins near me doing Pfizer or Moderna so I actually can choose which to have. Does one have the edge in terms of effectiveness or even side effects?

. Anyone?

Moderna is still stronger than Pfizer at half dose, that’s what I will be getting

I've heard that Moderna is stronger too. I asked for Pfizer when I had my booster only because I didn't know anything about Moderna and had read that Pfizer booster gives 95% protection against infection so am annoyed with myself now!

Moderna has shown to be more effective for longer.

I’ve had 3 shots of Moderna so am practically invincible at this stage

I’ve had 3 Pfizer’s but that was only one on offer at the centre, so no choice.

@Choux Where can you find walk-ins the give a choice of vaccine? I have also heard Moderna is better.

Am I being dense in thinking you should stick with whatever your first two jabs were?

@Joenlivsmom

Am I being dense in thinking you should stick with whatever your first two jabs were?

No, it doesn’t matter. Also AZ not available as a booster in the UK

I don't want either, I'd prefer AZ again. However if I do have a booster I want Pfizer as from what I've read Moderna seems to have more side effects such as nausea and vomiting

I don't know about Moderna but the data suggests that a booster Pfizer on top of AZ will give you protection better than you ever had in the first place, so it's certainly a great option.
Source is the Financial Times, who are impeccable on this subject.

I have just had Moderna as a booster after 2 doses of AZ. I live rurally and we don’t get a choice- all our local vaccine hubs just have Moderna. I find it really weird that we all still know the different brands etc - I wonder when it will become like a flu jab where no one has a clue who / what it is; just that it’s a vaccine and does it’s job….

I'm relieved to see this thread as I wanted a pfizer booster because I knew moderna was a half dose, and went to a centre which had been doing pfizer, to be told it was moderna.

I did ask why it was a half dose and the woman (I think a nurse) told me it was three times as strong as the pfizer and the trials showed it had a higher efficacy when used as a booster, so I went for it.

On returning home I checked this out and have found the booster had not three times the active ingredient but has a little more, it's the full dose which has a little over three times the amount. Additionally I can find no research which shows the half dose after AZ gives better efficacy. I can find lots of research indicating at normal doses the moderna has a higher efficacy.

I'm slightly frustrated I was given this misinformation as i wouldn't have had the moderna without this reassurance. I would have gone to another walk in doing pfizer.

[quote PurrBox]@Choux Where can you find walk-ins the give a choice of vaccine? I have also heard Moderna is better.[/quote]
Using this link - www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site

Under each option in my area is a table like this. I am assuming that if they only have Moderna for the second dose then they also only have Modena for the booster. I may be proven wrong though.

@EvilRingahBitch thanks for that, it's reassuring to read. Just annoyed that I am expected to make a decision on what vaccine to have on the spot without any information. And now I regret my decision!

It will be a tiny difference if any for an individual, I wouldn't give it any more headspace.
Are you aware there are 4 different flu vaccines in use this year? Do you know which brand you had, or the difference in efficacy/side effects between them? Does anyone google frantically to find one that marginally between efficacy or doesn't have a particular extremely rare side effect?

I would take pfizer over moderna --- side effect profiles for the original vaccs were lower for Pfizer than moderna .Also a number of scandinavian countries have paused or stopped using Moderna for their younger populations(particularly younger men)( under 30's or under 18's depending on the country) due to risk profile compared to Pfizer...although these decisions remain under review. I also had pfizer for my first 2 so feel i know where i am with that ! (auto-immune condition so concerned about reactions).

Having had 2 x AZ I was expecting a booster of same but apparently there is no AZ booster. So it’s Pfizer or Moderna regardless of the first two. I wonder why?

@PurplePumpkinDream

Having had 2 x AZ I was expecting a booster of same but apparently there is no AZ booster. So it’s Pfizer or Moderna regardless of the first two. I wonder why?

Because the mRNa vaccines are more effective?

I would take pfizer over moderna --- side effect profiles for the original vaccs were lower for Pfizer than moderna

This. If I decide to have the booster it will only be if it's Pfizer. I'm hoping I'll be able to find out beforehand as I won't go ahead if it's Moderna.

I had Moderna and haven’t caught Covid.

That said, my husband had AZ and he hasn’t caught Covid either.

I was told that all boosters are to be Moderna as all Pfizer jabs are being directed to youngsters. Not sure if it is true?

That's not the case Lizzie, there's very very little Moderna in the whole country, 95%+ of boosters will be Pfizer! There's one single centre in my entire county doing Moderna and that's only half days.

Haven’t heard anything about Moderna having more side effects than Pfizer. I had a strong immune response to Moderna all three times but that’s different, isn’t it?

I had my Pfizer booster on Monday. I'd had AZ for shots 1 and 2. I have had swollen glands especially in the armpit of the jabbed arm. Felt like I was smuggling a bowling ball under there! Headache nausea feeling faint with yesterday being the worst day. Today feeling a lot better. Talking to other people they had the swollen glands too. I was still able to do most of the things I had to and took paracetamol and fluids. The vaccine centre were doing a mix of Pfizer and Moderna boosters.

The vaccine centre were doing a mix of Pfizer and Moderna boosters.

Could you choose which one to have @JamesHetfieldspick?