Scientific teams around the world have developed successful Covid-19 vaccines in incredibly short order. In a feat that even a couple of years ago would have seemed completely out of reach, vaccines to protect against the new disease were being used before the first anniversary of the disclosure that a new threat existed. This is truly extraordinary.
In the United States, three vaccines are available, two of which are fully licensed. In August 2021, the FDA gave full approval to the vaccine developed by the partnership of Pfizer and German manufacturer BioNTech for people 16 and older. On Jan. 31, 2022, the agency gave full approval to the vaccine made by Moderna; it is licensed for use in people 18 and older. Emergency use authorizations — EUAs — remains in place for the Pfizer vaccine for younger teens and children aged 5 and older, and for the booster shots for both vaccines. The third vaccine, made by Johnson & Johnson, is available for use in people 18 and older under an EUA.