Interim recommendations for the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines

Overview

This interim recommendation on the mRNA vaccine platform for COVID-19 vaccines summarizes previous interim recommendations for the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines against COVID-19:

1) mRNA vaccine BNT162b2, manufactured by Pfizer and BioNTech. The international non-proprietary name is Tozinameran, also known as “Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine” or “Comirnaty”. 

2) mRNA-1273, manufactured by Moderna; also known as “Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine” or “Spikevax”. 

These were developed on the basis of advice issued by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and the evidence summary included in the background document referenced below.  In the subsequent text, both vaccines will be referred to as mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.