Why you can't compare Covid-19 vaccines

What a vaccine's "efficacy rate" actually means.

In the US, the first two available Covid-19 vaccines were the ones from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Both vaccines have very high "efficacy rates," of around 95%. But the third vaccine introduced in the US, from Johnson & Johnson, has a considerably lower efficacy rate: just 66%.

Look at those numbers next to each other, and it's natural to conclude that one of them is considerably worse. Why settle for 66% when you can have 95%? But that isn't the right way to understand a vaccine's efficacy rate, or even to understand what a vaccine does. And public health experts say that if you really want to know which vaccine is the best one, efficacy isn't actually the most important number at all.

Further reading from Vox:

[francescodegregorio]

First time I see people being more afraid of a cure than the actual virus

[orange-one]

props to that mayor though for wanting the best for his people and having change of mind when he realized he's wrong

[iamcristinea]

This is what you call proper explanation of the vaccine efficacy statistics.

[nywa]

Vox is really good at designing infographics that make complex topics more digestible. I appreciate all the effort!

[kevinparker]

Not sure why other news outlets aren't explaining this. This is important to know.

[akshayrathore]

Good on mayor for accepting the facts when educated about it.
Some people will double down instead of admitting they were wrong.

[heidimatthews]

Kudos to your team on the use of simple graphics to help communicate learning.

[jry_hrn]

J&J is going to really enjoy this video.

[gabrielnegron]

Im tired of politicians playing science when they know nothing

[MarushDenchev]

Now broadcast this to any TV channels on any county and let's get this over with.

[ByronicLuke]

For the first time in history, the ineffectiveness of a medication is being blamed on those who have NOT taken it.

[love.one.another]

J and J is no longer available in the USA. Providers are told to discard all remaining vials.

[pikapika]

Whoever framed how to tell this educational story in seven minutes deserves praise. If that team sees this, well done!

[jay]

Vox his done a better job at explaining vaccines than any major news outlet

[peterdisgusting]

The vaccine doesn't stop transmission

[c.]

And ALL OF THEM give heart issues. Myocarditis

[francoflyline]

Salute to those who went through the clinical trials, got the placebo, then still passed away. It must have been so antagonising to be that close to a cure, and then on a 50:50 chance, still lost out on it. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.

[neomurice]

I think the problem is ultimately the education about these vaccines. The information needs to be transparent, clear, relatable, and easy to understand. This kind of video needs to be more accessible and shared around on common media so people understand.

[LunaticFringe]

Turns out they never tested the efficacy at all.

[UniquelyClaire]

This is literally the first time that I'm hearing about this. Why isn't this being put on the news? I don't understand.