All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccines typically take years to go from early development to approval and distribution.
However, a large influx of funding and collaboration among scientists in 2020 has enabled research teams to produce safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in record time.
More than 50 vaccines for the novel coronavirus are being tested in clinical trials around the world with at least 80 others in earlier stages of development.
The leading vaccines have already been approved fully or for emergency use in one or more countries. More approvals are expected over the coming months.
Given the enormous impact of COVID-19, more than one vaccine will be likely needed to end the pandemic.
In the United States, a limited number of doses will be available in the beginning, so people with the highest risk of developing COVID-19 will be prioritized to receive the vaccine first.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is
- healthcare personnel
- residents of long-term care facilities
However, the Trump administration has reportedly told Walgreens and CVS to wait until at least Dec. 21 to start vaccinating people at long-term residential facilities.
As more doses of the vaccine become available, other high-risk groups will be eligible for vaccination. States have the final say over which groups are vaccinated first.
Hospitals and long-term care facilities will likely be among the first to distribute the vaccines, especially vaccines that require ultralow freezer storage, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
States may later widen this to include pharmacies, doctor offices, clinics, health departments, schools, community centers, and mobile vaccination sites.
You can learn more about vaccine distribution plans in your area by visiting your state’s health department website, or check out this document from Duke University and the National Governors Association (see page 25).
Here’s a rundown of the leading COVID-19 vaccines with details about their efficacy, approval status, and availability.
Vaccine name: BNT162b2, or Tozinameran (INN)
Efficacy: 95 percent
Dosage: 2 doses, 3 weeks apart
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: Ultralow temperatures, freezer only, at -80ºC to -60ºC (-112ºF to -76ºF). Room temperature for up to 6 hours.
Type: mRNA vaccine
Status: Approved in Canada and Saudi Arabia. Emergency use in United States, United Kingdom, and other countries. Approved in the United States for 16 years and older.
U.S. availability: The United States has a deal with Pfizer for the company to supply 100 million doses by next March, enough to vaccinate 50 million people.
Earlier in the summer, the Trump administration passed on a chance to secure additional doses of Pfizer’s vaccine, according to the New York Times.
Pfizer may not be able to supply the United States with more than the initial 100 million doses until June due to its existing contracts with other countries.
The company expects to be able to deliver 25 million doses to the country by the end of this month with the rest of the 100 million doses by March.
Immediately after emergency approval, more than 6 million doses were available, with nearly 3 million doses being shipped initially to states. The rest will held in reserve for those recipients’ second dose.
Vaccine name: mRNA-1273
Efficacy: 94 percent (preliminary results)
Dosage: 2 doses, 28 days apart
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: 6 months in standard freezer at -20°C (-4°F); 30 days in refrigerator; 12 hours at room temperature
Type: mRNA
Status: Vaccine has been
U.S. availability: The United States has purchased 200 million doses from Moderna, which was part of the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed program. This is enough to vaccinate 100 million people.
The government has an option to acquire an additional 300 million doses.
About 20 million doses are expected to be delivered by the end of December with the rest during the first quarter of 2021.
Vaccine name: AZD1222
Efficacy: 62 percent (2 standard doses); 90 percent (low dose followed by standard dose)
Dosage: 2 doses, 28 days apart
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: 6 months in standard refrigerator
Type: Chimpanzee adenovirus
Status: Still in phase 3 clinical trial
U.S. availability: The United States has agreed to buy 500 million doses if the vaccine receives emergency or regular approval from the FDA.
Vaccine name: Ad26.COV2.S
Efficacy: Unknown
Dosage: 1-dose and 2-dose regimens are being tested
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: Standard refrigerator
Type: Human adenovirus
Status: In phase 3 clinical trials
U.S. availability: The United States has entered into an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to buy 100 million doses if the vaccine receives emergency or regular approval from the FDA.
Vaccine name: NVX‑CoV2373
Efficacy: Unknown
Dosage: 2 doses, 21 days apart
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: Standard refrigerator
Type: Protein
Status: In phase 3 clinical trials
U.S. availability: The U.S. government pledged $1.6 billion to help Novavax set up commercial-scale manufacturing of its vaccine. If the vaccine receives emergency or regular approval from the FDA, the United States would own the 100 million doses expected to come out of this project.
Vaccine name: Ad5-nCoV
Efficacy: Unknown
Dosage: 1 dose
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: Standard refrigerator
Type: Human adenovirus
Status: Limited use in China; still in phase 3 clinical trials
U.S. availability: None
Vaccine name: Sputnik V
Efficacy: 91 percent (preliminary results)
Dosage: 2 doses, 21 days apart
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: Standard refrigerator
Type: Human adenovirus
Status: Early use in Russia; still in phase 3 clinical trials
U.S. availability: None
Vaccine name: BBIBP-CorV (developed by Beijing Institute of Biological Products)
Efficacy: 86 percent (preliminary results)
Dosage: 2 doses, 21 days apart
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: Standard refrigerator
Type: Inactivated
Status: Approved in the United Arab Emirates
U.S. availability: None
Vaccine name: CoronaVac
Efficacy: Unknown
Dosage: 2 doses, 21 days apart
Administration: Muscle injection
Storage: Standard refrigerator
Type: Inactivated
Status: Limited use in China; still in phase 3 clinical trial
U.S. availability: None