Moderna Vaccine Ingredients: What Is SM-102?

The Moderna vaccine is one of three COVID-19 vaccines to be rolling out across the United States, alongside Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson and Johnson.

The Moderna vaccine, which requires two doses 28 days apart for maximum protection, has been approved for people aged 18 years and older.

It has been proved to be 94 percent effective against COVID-19, compared to the 95 percent efficacy of the Pfizer jab.

The Moderna vaccine was the second to be approved for use in the US, with its rollout already a few months in.

What are the ingredients of the Moderna vaccine?

The Moderna vaccine includes messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), lipids, tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate and sucrose.

SM-102 is one of the lipids included in the Moderna vaccine. Lipids are there to protect the mRNA and provide a “greasy” exterior that helps the mRNA slide inside cells.

The mRNA is especially important. It is the component that builds antibodies against COVID-19.