Characteristics of COVID-19 Vaccines Available in Canada
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Moderna | |
| Vaccine Technology | mRNA | mRNA |
| Packaging |
Multi-dose preservative-free vials containing 5 doses Cartons of 25 and 195 vials |
Multi-dose preservative-free vials containing 10 doses Cartons of 10 vials |
| Storage/Stability | ||
| Freezer | Store at -80°C to -60°C (ultrafreezer) | Store at -25°C to -15°C (freezer) |
| Stability in Fridge (2°C to 8°C) | Undiluted product: up to 5 days | Up to 30 days |
| Thawing (Do not refreeze) |
Thaw undiluted product in fridge (takes up to 3 hours) or Thaw undiluted product at room temperature (takes ~30 minutes) |
Thaw in fridge (takes 2.5 hours), let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before administration or Thaw at room temperature (takes 1 hour) |
| Dilution |
Dilute thawed vials once they have reached room temperature with 1.8 mL of sterile 0.9% Sodium Chloride |
Dilution not required |
| Stability at Room Temperature (up to 25°C) | Prior to dilution, no more than 2 hours After dilution, use within 6 hours from time of dilution |
Up to 12 hours |
| Stability after 1st puncture | Up to 6 hours | Up to 6 hours |
| Stability in predrawn syringe Note: predraw as few as possible |
Up to 6 hours (if other stability parameters are met) | Up to 6 hours (if other stability parameters are met) |
| Clinical Information | ||
| Age | Approved for those 16 years and older (Limited data for those 12-15 years) |
Approved for those 18 years and older |
| Dose | 2x 0.3 ml doses 21-28 days* apart Minimum interval = 19 days |
2x 0.5 ml doses 28 days* apart Minimum interval = 21 days |
| Route of Administration | Intramuscular (deltoid) | Intramuscular (deltoid) |
| *Up to 42 days if needed in times of vaccine supply constraint. | ||