Spikevax (previously COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna)

The originally authorised Spikevax is given in people from the age of 6 months as two injections, usually into the muscle of the upper arm, or the thigh in infants and young children, 28 days apart. A booster dose may be given to adults and children from the age of 6 years, at least 3 months after primary vaccination with Spikevax, or another mRNA vaccine or an adenoviral vector vaccine.

Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron BA.1 may be given as a single injection to adults and children from the age of 6 years, at least 3 months after primary vaccination or a booster dose with a COVID-19 vaccine.

Both Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron BA.4-5 and Spikevax XBB.1.5 are given as a single injection to adults and children aged 5 years and older, irrespective of their previous COVID-19 vaccination history. In children from 6 months to 4 years of age, they are given as a single injection in those who have completed a primary vaccination course or have had COVID-19 before, or as two injections 28 days apart in those who have not previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 or had COVID-19.

An additional dose of Spikevax, Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron BA.4-5 or Spikevax XBB.1.5 may be given to adults and children aged 6 months and older with a severely weakened immune system.

The vaccines should be used according to official recommendations, issued at national level, by public health bodies.

For more information about using Spikevax, including information about the adapted vaccines and doses for different age groups, see the package leaflet or consult a healthcare professional.

Spikevax works by preparing the body to defend itself against COVID-19. It contains a molecule called mRNA which has instructions for making the spike protein. This is a protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which the virus needs to enter the body’s cells and which can differ between variants of the virus.

When a person is given the vaccine, some of their cells will read the mRNA instructions and temporarily produce the spike protein. The person’s immune system will then recognise this protein as foreign and produce antibodies and activate T cells (white blood cells) to attack it.

If, later on, the person comes into contact with SARS-CoV-2, their immune system will recognise it and be ready to defend the body against it.

After vaccination, the mRNA from the vaccine is broken down and removed from the body.

Adapted vaccines work in the same way as the original vaccine and are expected to maintain protection against the virus as they contain mRNA more closely matching circulating variants of the virus..

A very large clinical trial showed that Spikevax, given as a two-dose regimen, was effective at preventing COVID-19 in people from 18 years of age. The trial involved around 30,000 people in total. Half received the vaccine and half were given dummy injections. People did not know whether they received the vaccine or the dummy injections.

Efficacy was calculated in around 28,000 people from 18 to 94 years of age who had no sign of previous infection. The trial showed a 94.1% reduction in the number of symptomatic COVID-19 cases in the people who received the vaccine (11 out of 14,134 vaccinated people got COVID-19 with symptoms) compared with people who received dummy injections (185 out of 14,073 people who received dummy injections got COVID-19 with symptoms). This means that the vaccine demonstrated a 94.1% efficacy in the trial. The trial also showed 90.9% efficacy in participants at risk of severe COVID-19, including those with chronic lung disease, heart disease, obesity, liver disease, diabetes or HIV infection.

Another study showed that an additional dose of Spikevax increased the ability to produce antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in organ transplant patients with severely weakened immune systems.

The effects of Spikevax were also investigated in a study involving over 3,000 children aged 12 to 17 years. The study showed that Spikevax produced a comparable immune response in 12- to 17-year-olds to that seen in young adults (aged 18 to 25 years), as measured by the level of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, none of the 2,163 children who received the vaccine developed COVID-19, compared with four of 1,073 children given a dummy injection. These results allowed to conclude that the efficacy of Spikevax in children 12 to 17 years old is similar to that in adults.

An additional study involving three groups of children aged 6 months to under 2 years, 2 to 5 years and 6 to 11 years showed that Spikevax produced a comparable immune response in these age groups to that seen in young adults (aged 18 to 25 years), as measured by the level of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. These results indicate that the efficacy of Spikevax in children 6 months to 11 years old is similar to that in adults.

Additional data showed that subsequent doses, including boosters, lead to a rise in levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Based on available data, vaccines adapted specifically to target circulating strains of the virus are expected to elicit a strong immune response against these strains.

Originally authorised Spikevax, Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron BA.4-5 and Spikevax XBB.1.5 are authorised for adults and children from 6 months of age.

Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron BA.1 is authorised for adults and children from 6 years of age.

Although immunocompromised people may not respond as well to the vaccine, there are no particular safety concerns. Immunocompromised people can still be vaccinated as they may be at higher risk from COVID-19.

Severely immunocompromised people may be given an additional dose of Spikevax as part of their primary vaccination.

Spikevax can be used during pregnancy.

A large amount of data from pregnant women vaccinated with Spikevax during the second or third trimester of their pregnancy has been analysed and showed no increase in pregnancy complications. Although data in women in the first trimester of pregnancy are more limited, no increased risk of miscarriage was seen.

Spikevax can be used during breast-feeding. Data from women who were breast-feeding after vaccination have not shown a risk of adverse effects in breast-fed babies.

No data are currently available regarding the use of the adapted vaccines in pregnant or breast-feeding women. However, based on the similarity with the originally authorised Spikevax, including a comparable safety profile, the adapted vaccines can be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

People who already know they have an allergy to one of the components of the vaccine listed in section 6 of the package leaflet should not receive the vaccine.

Allergic reactions (hypersensitivity) have been seen in people receiving the vaccine. A very small number of cases of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) have occurred. Therefore, as for all vaccines, Spikevax, including the adapted vaccines, should be given under close medical supervision, with the appropriate medical treatment available in case of allergic reactions. People who have a severe allergic reaction when they are given a dose of Spikevax or its adapted vaccines should not receive subsequent doses.

The main clinical trials for Spikevax included people of different ethnicities and genders. The high efficacy was maintained across genders and ethnic groups.

For the full list of side effects and restrictions with Spikevax, see the package leaflet.

The most common side effects with Spikevax are usually mild or moderate and get better within a few days after vaccination. These include redness, pain and swelling at the injection site, tiredness, chills, fever, swollen or tender lymph nodes under the arm, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting. They may affect more than 1 in 10 people. In infants under 3 years of age, irritability, crying, sleepiness and loss of appetite are also very common side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 infants).
Hives and rash at the injection site, sometimes occurring more than a week after injection, rash affecting areas other than the injection site and diarrhoea may affect less than 1 in 10 people. Itching at the injection site, dizziness and abdominal pain may affect less than 1 in 100 people. Swelling of the face, which may affect people who had facial cosmetic injections in the past, weakness in muscles on one side of the face (acute peripheral facial paralysis or palsy), paraesthesia (unusual feeling in the skin, such as tingling or a crawling feeling) and hypoaesthesia (reduced sensation to touch, pain and temperature) may affect less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) may occur in up to 1 in 10,000 people.

A very small number of cases of erythema multiforme (red patches on the skin with a dark red centre and paler red rings) have occurred. Allergic reactions have also occurred in people receiving the vaccine, including a very small number of cases of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

The safety of the adapted vaccines is comparable to that of the originally authorised Spikevax vaccine.

Data have shown that originally authorised Spikevax and its adapted vaccines cause the production of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 that can protect against COVID-19. The main trials showed that the originally authorised vaccine has a high efficacy in all age groups. Most side effects are mild to moderate in severity and are gone within a few days.

The European Medicines Agency therefore decided that the benefits of Spikevax, including its adapted vaccines, are greater than its risks, and it can be authorised for use in the EU.

Spikevax was originally given ‘conditional authorisation’ because there was more evidence to come about the vaccine. The company has provided comprehensive information, including data regarding its safety, efficacy, and how well Spikevax prevents severe disease. In addition, the company has completed all requested studies on the pharmaceutical quality of the vaccine. As a result, the conditional authorisation has been switched to a standard one.

Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Spikevax and its adapted vaccines have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.

A Spikevax (previously COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna): EPAR - Risk-management-plan is also in place and contains important information about the vaccine’s safety, how to collect further information and how to minimise any potential risks.

Safety measures for Spikevax and its adapted vaccines are implemented in line with the EU safety monitoring plan for COVID-19 vaccines to ensure that new safety information is rapidly collected and analysed. The company that markets Spikevax will provide regular safety reports.

As for all medicines, data on the use of Spikevax and its adapted vaccines are continuously monitored. Suspected side effects are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.

COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna received a conditional marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 6 January 2021. This was switched to a standard marketing authorisation on 3 October 2022.

More information about the COVID-19 vaccines is available on the COVID-19 vaccines key facts page.

This overview was last updated in 09-2023.

The 'Assessment history' section contains a complete list of developments since authorisation. 

The 'News' section contains information on manufacturing changes before 2022.