WTMJ, MILWAUKEE — A new Mayo Clinic study suggests the Moderna vaccine is performing far better than Pfizer when it comes to breakthrough infections.
Mayo Clinic in Minnesota followed tens of thousands of vaccinated people for the past six months.
While they found one vaccine outperformed another at preventing infections, researchers say all of the approved vaccines show strong results in minimizing hospitalizations.
Results from Mayo’s study show Moderna’s vaccine was 76 percent effective at preventing infections last month, a 10 percent decrease compared to earlier in the year before the Delta variant spread. Hunter Skluzacek received Moderna shots several months ago.
“I think it’s reassuring to know that,” he said.
“I think there’s going to be a lot more people who are not vaccinated yet who are going to come to us and say ‘I do want the Moderna versus the Pfizer.’”
The retrospective study of the Pfizer vaccine shows its effectiveness in preventing new coronavirus cases fell to 42 percent in July.
Jesse Perez is disappointed to see the results after seeking out Pfizer shots in particular.
“It’s just frustrating knowing that you go through all the time to schedule that, to go through and get that and now it’s not as effective against the Delta variant,” he said.
Before the virus mutated, clinical trials found Pfizer and Moderna’s effectiveness to be nearly identical at about 95 percent.
Dr. Hashim Zaibad offers both vaccines at Hayat Pharmacy in Milwaukee.
“In Florida, which is currently experiencing its largest COVID-19 surge to date, the risk of infection in July after full vaccination with [Moderna] and was about 60% lower than after full vaccination with [Pfizer ]” – Mayo Clinic
