This page contains information about the COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen and Novavax.

COVID-19 vaccines in the Netherlands

video still animatie NOVAVAX vaccin

Animation Novavax vaccine

Read more about these vaccines on Government.nl

Types of COVID-19 vaccines

  • The COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and by Moderna are mRNA vaccines. These RNA vaccines contain a protective envelope of lipids (fat) with an instruction (code) that tells your cells to make spike proteins. These are the spiky protrusions on the exterior of the coronavirus. The immune system recognises the spike proteins as foreign substances and starts making antibodies. 
  • The COVID-19 vaccine made by Janssen is a vector vaccine. The vector vaccine contains an inactivated cold virus (that cannot replicate) with an instruction (code) that tells your cells to make spike proteins. The immune system reacts by producing antibodies, just as it does in response to the mRNA vaccines. 
  • The Novavax vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine. The vaccine contains very small particles of spike protein, which have been produced in a laboratory. It also contains an adjuvant: a substance that intensifies the body’s immune response to the protein. After vaccination, the body responds by producing antibodies against the spike protein. If the body encounters the SARS-COV-2 virus, the immune system recognises the spike proteins on the virus. In response, the immune system starts producing antibodies. 

As used for the basic series of COVID-19 vaccinations

Pfizer/BioNTech(Comirnaty) 

Official Dutch package leaflet

Vaccine factsheet

Moderna (Spikevax)

Official Dutch package leaflet

Vaccine factsheet

Janssen (Jcovden)

Official Dutch package leaflet

Vaccine factsheet

Novavax (Nuvaxovid)

Official Dutch package leaflet

Vaccine factsheet

     

As used for the repeat vaccination against COVID-19 vaccinations

Pfizer/BioNTech(Comirnaty) 

Official Dutch package leaflet

Vaccine factsheet

Moderna (Spikevax)

Official Dutch package leaflet

Vaccine factsheet

Janssen (Jcovden)

Official Dutch package leaflet

Vaccine factsheet

Novavax (Nuvaxovid)

Official Dutch package leaflet

Vaccine factsheet

Package leaflets for the COVID-19 vaccines

There is no gelatin, chicken protein or antibiotics in the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna or in the vector vaccines made by AstraZeneca and Janssen.