Several COVID-19 vaccines have been developed since 2020, each with its own brand name, manufacturer, and underlying technology. Some are still in active use, while others have been discontinued or withdrawn. Here’s a complete breakdown of the names you’re likely to encounter.
Vaccines Currently Available in the U.S.
As of 2025, four COVID-19 vaccines hold FDA approval for use in the United States:
- Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech), approved for ages 5 and older
- Spikevax (Moderna), approved for ages 6 months and older
- mNexspike (Moderna), approved for ages 12 and older
- Nuvaxovid (Novavax), approved for ages 12 and older
Comirnaty, Spikevax, and mNexspike are all mRNA vaccines. They deliver genetic instructions that teach your cells to produce a harmless piece of the virus’s spike protein, triggering an immune response. Nuvaxovid works differently: it contains a lab-made version of the spike protein itself, paired with an immune-boosting ingredient called an adjuvant. This protein subunit approach is more similar to traditional vaccine technology and has been an option for people who preferred an alternative to mRNA.
There is currently no Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available for children ages 6 months through 4 years. Children in that age group who previously received Pfizer doses are being transitioned to Moderna’s Spikevax for their updated shots.
How the Formula Gets Updated
COVID-19 vaccines are reformulated regularly, similar to the annual flu shot. The 2024-2025 vaccines targeted the KP.2 variant. For fall 2025, the FDA has directed manufacturers to produce a monovalent vaccine based on the JN.1 lineage, preferentially using the LP.8.1 strain, to better match the viruses currently circulating. The brand names stay the same even as the formula inside changes.
Vaccines No Longer in Use
Two viral vector vaccines were widely used earlier in the pandemic but are no longer available in most countries. These vaccines worked by using a modified, harmless virus (not the coronavirus) to carry spike protein instructions into your cells.
- Vaxzevria (Oxford/AstraZeneca), also known by its technical name ChAdOx1-S. It was authorized in the EU in January 2021 but its marketing authorization is no longer valid. AstraZeneca voluntarily withdrew the vaccine globally in 2024.
- Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson), technically called Ad26.COV2.S. This was the single-dose option popular in 2021 but is no longer authorized in the U.S.
The original monovalent mRNA formulations of both Pfizer and Moderna (the first-generation versions targeting the original Wuhan strain) were also formally discontinued, with all providers instructed to stop using them once updated formulas became available.
Major Vaccines Used Internationally
Several COVID-19 vaccines were developed and distributed widely outside the U.S. and Europe. You may encounter these names in travel records, international news, or WHO documentation.
- CoronaVac (Sinovac, China). An inactivated vaccine, meaning it uses a killed version of the actual coronavirus to train the immune system. It was one of the most widely distributed vaccines globally, particularly across Asia and Latin America.
- Sinopharm (Beijing Institute of Biological Products, China). Also an inactivated vaccine, technically called BBIBP-CorV. It was used extensively across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia.
- Covaxin (Bharat Biotech, India). Another inactivated vaccine, known technically as BBV152. It was India’s domestically developed option.
- Covishield (Serum Institute of India). This was actually the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured under license in India. Same formula as Vaxzevria, different name.
- Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute, Russia). Technically called Gam-COVID-Vac, this was a two-dose viral vector vaccine that used two different adenoviruses for the first and second shots. It was used in dozens of countries but never received WHO emergency use listing.
- Corbevax (Biological E, India). A protein subunit vaccine that did receive WHO emergency use listing, used primarily in India.
Technical Names You Might See
Vaccines often appear in medical records, research papers, or pharmacy systems under technical identifiers rather than brand names. The most common ones to know: BNT162b2 is Pfizer’s Comirnaty, mRNA-1273 is Moderna’s Spikevax, and NVX-CoV2373 is Novavax’s Nuvaxovid. If you see any of these on a vaccination card or medical record, they refer to the same vaccines sold under their more familiar brand names.