COVID-19 Vaccine Release Dates: A Comprehensive Guide

The development and release of COVID-19 vaccines have been a monumental effort in global health history. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of vaccine release dates across various countries and regions, along with key milestones in the vaccine development process.

Key Milestones in COVID-19 Vaccine Development

• January 2020: The genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, was shared globally, kickstarting vaccine development efforts.
• March 2020: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
• April 2020: The first human clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines began.
• August 2020: Several vaccine candidates entered Phase 3 clinical trials, which involved tens of thousands of participants.
• December 2020: The UK became the first country to authorize and begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• December 2020: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use.

COVID-19 Vaccine Release Dates by Country and Region

North America

• United States:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 11, 2020 (emergency use authorization)
  • Moderna: December 18, 2020 (emergency use authorization)
  • Johnson & Johnson: February 27, 2021 (emergency use authorization)
• Canada:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 14, 2020
  • Moderna: December 23, 2020
  • AstraZeneca: February 26, 2021
  • Johnson & Johnson: March 5, 2021
• Mexico:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 23, 2020
  • CanSinoBIO: February 19, 2021
  • Sputnik V: February 22, 2021

South America

• Brazil:
  • CoronaVac (Sinovac): January 17, 2021
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: February 17, 2021
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: January 17, 2021
  • Covaxin (Bharat Biotech): February 20, 2021
• Argentina:
  • Sputnik V: December 29, 2020
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: February 22, 2021
  • Sinopharm: March 3, 2021
• Chile:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 24, 2020
  • CoronaVac (Sinovac): February 4, 2021

Europe

• United Kingdom:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 8, 2020
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: January 4, 2021
• Germany:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 26, 2020
  • Moderna: December 27, 2020
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: January 15, 2021
• France:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 27, 2020
  • Moderna: January 8, 2021
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: January 18, 2021
• Italy:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 27, 2020
  • Moderna: January 6, 2021
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: January 11, 2021
• Spain:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 27, 2020
  • Moderna: December 29, 2020
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: January 7, 2021

Asia

• China:
  • Sinopharm: December 15, 2020
  • Sinovac: February 14, 2021
• India:
  • Covishield (Oxford-AstraZeneca): January 16, 2021
  • Covaxin (Bharat Biotech): January 16, 2021
• Japan:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: February 17, 2021
  • Moderna: April 12, 2021
• South Korea:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: February 26, 2021
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: April 7, 2021
• Israel:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: December 19, 2020

Africa

• South Africa:
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: February 17, 2021
  • Johnson & Johnson: February 17, 2021
• Egypt:
  • Sinopharm: January 25, 2021
• Morocco:
  • Sinopharm: January 28, 2021

Australia

• Australia:
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: February 21, 2021
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca: March 8, 2021

Important Notes

• This information is based on publicly available data and may be subject to change. It is recommended to consult official sources for the most up-to-date information.
• The release dates represent the first authorization or approval of vaccines in each country or region. Actual vaccination rollouts may vary.
• Vaccine availability and accessibility can be affected by factors such as supply chain logistics, regulatory approvals, and population demographics.