As the COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed across the country some are starting to wonder if one candidate is better than the other. Vaccines from both Pfizer and Moderna are being administered in the U.S. and doctors say there are many similarities between the two. So does it really matter which vaccine you get?
Experts say patients should not notice a difference. The two vaccines work the same in the body, have similar effectiveness and both require two shots.
Dr. William Shaffner with Vanderbilt University Medical Center says the main difference between the two is how it's stored, "The Pfizer vaccine requires a really deep cold chain, needs dry ice, special freezers special handling, whereas the Moderna vaccine can be handled at refrigerator temps and so it's the vaccine that will be more widely distributed."
Doctors do say you won't know which vaccine you received until after you get the first dose. That's because you will receive a card with your vaccine information on it, the card will also have a return date for your second dose.