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Updated 26 November 2021
The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, often sold under the brand name Comirnaty, is an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer/BioNTech has been lauded worldwide for having one of the highest efficacy rates available as of now against the virus. The vaccine is recognized by 107 countries worldwide and is being widely distributed across the globe.
Keep on reading to find out which countries are recognizing the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
About Pfizer
The Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 is a messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) vaccine. The vaccine carries genetic instructions that help the recipient’s cells produce protein pieces that trigger immune system response. The response is in the form of the reproduction of millions of copies of spike protein which stimulates the making of antibodies.
The Pfizer vaccine works best with two doses, where the second one is registered 21 days after the first one. On administration of the first dose, the immune system is alerted, and post the second one, it gets a boost, thus providing the immunity to fight off the virus.
Based on evidence from clinical trials in people ages 16 years and older, the Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY) vaccine was 95% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 in people who received two doses and had no evidence of being previously infected. The vaccine also showed more than 90% efficacy in children between ages 5–15 years.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is recommended for people ages 5 years and older.
Pfizer WHO status
The WHO’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL) and EMA’s Conditional Marketing Authorization act as benchmarks for the other countries.
On 31 December 2020, Pfizer became the first vaccine to get a nod from the WHO. The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, a group of experts that provides independent and authoritative guidance to WHO on safe vaccine use, received and assessed reports of suspected safety events and studied the vaccine closely prior to approval.
For COVID-19 vaccines, the UN’s health branch has set the bar for minimum efficacy at 50% in its considerations for evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines. So far, 8 vaccines are approved for use by WHO:
- Pfizer/BioNTech: Comirnaty
- Oxford/AstraZeneca: Vaxzevria
- Johnson & Johnson: Ad26.COV2.S
- Moderna: mRNA-1273
- Sinopharm: BBIBP-CorV
- Sinovac: CoronaVac
- Covishield: Oxford/ AstraZeneca formulation
- Covaxin: Bharath Biotech
Pfizer EMA status
The EMA granted Pfizer a conditional marketing authorization on 12 December 2020. EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) had completed its rigorous evaluation of Comirnaty, assessing data on the vaccine’s quality, safety, and efficacy prior to approval. The EU countries will also accept Pfizer vaccine passports.
EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended granting an extension of indication for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty to include use in children aged 5 to 11. The vaccine, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, is already approved for use in adults and children aged 12 and above.
The EMA’s authorization process involves the safety monitoring of vaccines and careful consideration of aspects like risks, side effects, design, clinical reports, etc. Apart from Pfizer, the EMA has given its nod to:
- Moderna: mRNA-1273
- Johnson & Johnson: Ad26.COV2.S
- Oxford/AstraZeneca: Vaxzevria
Pfizer approved countries
The following countries have given Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine the go-ahead.
Albania
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinovac, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Sputnik V.
Argentina
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Moderna, Sinovac, CanSino, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and Covishield.
Australia
The other vaccines recognised are Sinopharm, Vaxzevria-AstraZeneca, Covishield, Moderna, Janssen, Sinovac and Covaxin
Austria
The other vaccines recognised are Sinopharm, Vaxzevria – AstraZeneca, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, and Sinovac.
Azerbaijan
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinovac, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Sputnik V.
Bahamas
The other vaccine approved in the country is Covishield.
Bahrain
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Sputnik Light, Janssen, and Covishield.
Bangladesh
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Janssen, Covishield, and Sinovac.
Belgium
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen, and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Bermuda
The other vaccine approved in the country is Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Bolivia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Janssen and Covishield.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik V and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Botswana
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Covishield and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Brazil
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Covishield, and Sinovac.
Brunei Darussalam
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca.
Bulgaria
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Cabo Verde
The other vaccine approved in the country is Covishield.
Canada
The other vaccines recognised are Sinopharm (starting November 30), Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Sinovac (starting November 30) and Covaxin (starting November 30).
Chile
The other vaccines approved in the country are CanSino, Sputnik V, Janssen, Sinovac and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Colombia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinovac, Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Costa Rica
The other vaccine approved in the country is Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Croatia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Cyprus
The other vaccines recognised are Sinopharm, Vaxzevria – AstraZeneca, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, and Sinovac.
Czechia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Denmark
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna and Janssen.
Dominican Republic
The other vaccines approved in the country are Oxford/AstraZeneca and Sinovac.
Ecuador
The other vaccines approved in the country are CanSino, Sputnik V, Sinovac and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
El Salvador
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinovac and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Estonia
The other vaccines approved by Estonia are Moderna, Covaxin, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Faroe Islands
The other vaccines approved in the country are Janssen and Moderna.
Finland
The other vaccines recognised are Sinopharm, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna and Covaxin.
France
The other vaccines approved in the country are Janssen, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Gabon
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik V, Janssen and Sinopharm (Beijing).
Georgia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac
Germany
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Greece
The other vaccines recognised are Sinopharm, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, Covishield, Novavax, Sputnik V, Cansino Biologics
Greenland
The other vaccine approved in the country is Moderna.
Hong Kong
The other vaccine approved in the country is Sinovac.
Hungary
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, CanSino, Sputnik V, Janssen, AstraZeneca, and Covishield.
Iceland
The other vaccines recognised are Sinopharm, Vaxzevria – AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca/SK Bio, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, Sinovac
Indonesia
The other vaccines approved in the country are CanSino, Sputnik V, Janssen, Moderna, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and ZF2001.
Iraq
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca.
Ireland
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Israel
The other vaccine approved in the country is Moderna.
Italy
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Jamaica
The other vaccines approved in the country are Janssen, Oxford/AstraZeneca and Covishield.
Japan
The other vaccines approved in the country are Takeda and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Jordan
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca.
Kazakhstan
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik Light, Sputnik V, Sinovac and QazVac.
Kenya
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Janssen, Sputnik V, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.
Kuwait
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Latvia
The other vaccines approved by Latvia are Moderna, Covaxin, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Lebanon
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Sputnik V, and Covishield.
Libya
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sputnik V, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Liechtenstein
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Lithuania
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Luxembourg
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Malaysia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, CanSino, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Sinovac.
Maldives
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, Covishield, Janssen, and Sputnik V.
Malta
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Mexico
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik V, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Moderna, Janssen, Covaxin, Sinovac and CanSino.
Monaco
Pfizer is the only vaccine approved in the country.
Mongolia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Moderna, Sputnik V, Sputnik Light, and AstraZeneca.
Netherlands
The other vaccines recognised are Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca-SK Bio (Vaxzevria), AstraZeneca EU (Vaxzevria), Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, and Sinovac.
New Zealand
The other vaccines approved in the country are Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Nicaragua
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik V, CIGB-66, Sputnik Light, Oxford/AstraZeneca and Covishield.
Nigeria
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Covishield.
North Macedonia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Sputnik V, and AstraZeneca.
Norway
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
Oman
The other vaccines approved are Sinopharm, Oxford-AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca / Covishield, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, Moderna, Sputnik V and Covaxin.
Pakistan
The other vaccines approved in the country are CanSino, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sputnik V, and Sinovac.
Panama
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik V, Sinovac and AstraZeneca.
Paraguay
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Sputnik V, AstraZeneca, Covaxin, and Sinovac.
Peru
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Janssen and AstraZeneca.
Philippines
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Sputnik V, Sputnik Light, Covaxin, Sinovac, and Sinopharm (Wuhan) Inactivated (Vero Cells).
Poland
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Portugal
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Puerto Rico
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna and Janssen.
Qatar
The other vaccine approved in the country is Moderna.
Republic of Korea
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Republic of Moldova
The other vaccines approved in the country are Oxford/AstraZeneca and Sputnik V.
Romania
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Rwanda
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sputnik V, Janssen and Covishield.
Saudi Arabia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Serbia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Sputnik V, and AstraZeneca.
Singapore
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna and Sinovac.
Slovakia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Slovenia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Janssen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
South Africa
The other vaccines approved in the country are Janssen, Sinovac and Covishield.
Spain
The other vaccines recognised are Pfizer/BioNTech, Vaxzevria – AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca/SK Bio, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna and Sinovac.
Sri Lanka
The other vaccines approved in the country are Covishield, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Sputnik V.
Sweden
The other vaccines recognised are Pfizer/BioNTech, Vaxzevria – AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca/SK Bio, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna and Sinovac.
Switzerland
The other vaccines recognised are Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Vaxzevria, Janssen, Covishield, and Sinovac.
Taiwan
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Medigen and Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Thailand
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, Janssen, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac.
Trinidad and Tobago
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm and Covishield.
Tunisia
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Sinovac.
Turkey
The other vaccines approved in the country are Sinovac and Sputnik V.
Ukraine
The other vaccines approved in the country are Janssen, Covishield and Sinovac.
United Arab Emirates
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, AstraZeneca, and Sputnik Light.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The other vaccines approved in the country are Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Moderna, Janssen, Sinovac, Covaxin.
United States of America
The other vaccines recognised in the country are Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Covishield, and Sinovac.
Uruguay
The other vaccines approved in the country are Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinovac.
Vatican
Pfizer is the only vaccine approved in the country.
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, CIGB-66 vaccine, Sinopharm, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V.
West Bank
The other vaccines approved in the country are Moderna, Sinopharm, Janssen, Sputnik Light and Sputnik V.
