The authorised COVID-19 vaccines Comirnaty (BNT-162b2) from BioNTech/Pfizer and Spikevax (mRNA-1273) from Moderna are comparable in terms of safety and efficacy/effectiveness. Published studies have also shown a significant increase in antibody titers in vaccinated persons following a heterologous second vaccination with Spikevax from Moderna after COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen and a heterologous third vaccination (booster vaccination) with Spikevax from Moderna after previous vaccination with Vaxzevria or BioNTech/Pfizer.
This assessment by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut was made as of 20 November 2021 on the basis of data obtained from clinical trials presented as part of the marketing authorisation procedure, published immunogenicity data from the vaccination campaigns, and published results on the safety of both authorised mRNA-COVID vaccines.
The use of both mRNA-COVID-19 vaccines for booster vaccinations in persons aged 18 years and over is authorised for Comirnaty at a dose that corresponds to the dose approved for the primary vaccination series and for Spikevax at half the dose intended for the primary vaccination series. Based on the decision by the Conference of the German Länder Health Ministers (Gesundheitsministerkonferenz, GMK) and the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Ständige Impfkommission, STIKO), booster vaccinations with Spikevax can be recommended for persons aged 30 and over. According to the STIKO recommendation, Comirnaty is to be used for pregnant women of any age from the second trimester and for persons between 18 and 29 years of age.
Updated: 20.11.2021
