In the United States, there are currently four vaccines in use to prevent COVID-19. These vaccines were developed by Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax. The federal government and partners (e.g., pharmaceutical companies) have been working since the pandemic started to make COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as possible.  Many more COVID-19 vaccine candidates are currently in development or under evaluation.

Due to the critical need for COVID-19 vaccines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax vaccines, prior to the vaccines receiving full FDA licensure. An Emergency Use Authorization does not bypass requirements to show that the vaccine is safe and effective.

Currently both Moderna and Pfizer have full FDA approval for their monovalent primary series vaccines. Their bivalent products are still approved under an EUA and are only authorized for booster doses. Johnson & Johnson remains approved under an EUA as a primary dose if someone cannot receive a Pfizer or Moderna product and is unlikely to return for a second dose of Novavax. Novavax remains approved under an EUA for the primary vaccine series only.

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccines:

• U.S. Food & Drug Administration
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
• COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Philadelphia
• FAQs about COVID-19 vaccines
• Vaccination datasets (OpenDataPhilly)

Get your COVID-19 vaccine