What is the difference in cost and availability between Mspikevax (Moderna COVID-19 vaccine) and Spikevax (Moderna COVID-19 vaccine) in terms of production volume?

Mspikevax vs Spikevax: Cost and Availability

Clarification of Terminology

Mspikevax and Spikevax are the same vaccine—both are brand names for Moderna's mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine. The naming difference reflects regulatory designations rather than distinct products. "Spikevax" is the trade name used when the vaccine received full FDA approval, while "Mspikevax" refers to specific formulations or regional naming conventions 1.

Cost Comparison

There is no cost difference between Mspikevax and Spikevax as they are the same product. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been priced at approximately $32-37 per dose in the United States 2. This pricing applies regardless of the brand name used.

Cost-Effectiveness Considerations

Economic modeling demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccines, including Moderna's product, are most cost-effective in specific populations 3:

• Adults aged ≥65 years: Base case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $23,308 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), which is highly favorable and robust to parameter assumptions 3
• Adults aged 50-64 years: ICER of $113,248 per QALY 3
• Adults aged 18-49 years: ICER of $212,225 per QALY 3
• Adolescents and children: ICERs ranging from $200,445 to $202,621 per QALY, with high sensitivity to input assumptions 3

Production Volume and Availability

The provided evidence does not contain specific production volume data for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. However, several factors indicate widespread availability:

Current Authorization and Distribution

• The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is FDA-authorized for persons aged ≥18 years under Emergency Use Authorization 4, 1
• As of July 2021,187 million persons in the United States had received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (including Moderna), indicating substantial production capacity 4
• The 2024-2025 formulations include updated Omicron JN.1 lineage variants, demonstrating ongoing production and distribution 3

Dosing Specifications

Each dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine contains 2, 1:

• 100 μg (0.5 mL) of mRNA per dose
• Administered as a 2-dose primary series, 4 weeks apart
• Requires standard freezer storage conditions

Comparative Storage Advantages

The Moderna vaccine has a practical advantage over the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in terms of storage and distribution 2:

• Less temperature-sensitive than Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
• Easier to transport and store
• This may facilitate broader distribution and availability in resource-limited settings

Clinical Efficacy Data

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine demonstrates 5, 2:

• 94.5% efficacy in preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection 2
• 93.20% vaccine efficacy (95% CI 91.06% to 94.83%) based on pooled RCT data 5
• 98.20% efficacy (95% CI 92.80% to 99.60%) against severe or critical COVID-19 disease 5
• Immunogenicity lasting at least 119 days after first vaccination 2

Safety Profile

The Moderna vaccine probably results in little or no difference in serious adverse events compared to placebo (RR 0.92,95% CI 0.78 to 1.08) 5. However, adverse effects are reported to be slightly more frequent with Moderna compared to Pfizer-BioNTech 2.

Key Clinical Considerations

• No production volume differences exist between Mspikevax and Spikevax as they are identical products
• Cost remains consistent at $32-37 per dose regardless of naming convention
• Storage advantages may make Moderna's vaccine more accessible in certain distribution scenarios
• Clinical efficacy and safety profiles are well-established through extensive RCT data