LyrArc Article Gist
The Moderna vaccine can be more easily shipped and handled than the Pfizer vaccine making it easier to use at smaller hospitals and in rural areas. Moderna would add 20 million doses in December to that of Pfizer's 25 million doses for the U.S. Moderna vaccine is developed in Cambridge Massachusetts Labs and is manufactured in the U.S. and Switzerland. 

Moderna vaccine can be stored in freezers does not require ultra low temperatures as Pfizer vaccine. Once thawed it can be stay refrigerated for 30 days compared to 5 days for Pfizer vaccine. Moderna ships in containers of 100 vaccine doses or larger, Pfizer minimum container size is for 975 doses. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are in th 94-95% effectiveness range. Moderna can be injected as is, Pfizer's requires to be diluted in a separate solution.

On Dec. 11 the U.S. ito double its purchase of Moderna vaccine to 200 million doses by end of June, Pfizer 's is still at 100 million doses.

Moderna may get its approval from FDA in U.S. by Dec. 18. Both Moderna and Pfizer would require a second dose in 3 weeks, both use the same MrnA technology. J&J is developing a vaccine that requires only one dose. J&J finishes its trials in January and expects approval in February.