What different types of Covid-19 vaccine are there?
There are hundreds of Covid-19 vaccines in development, with a number now approved and being rolled out around the world. How do some of the different vaccines work and compare?
Covid-19 vaccines: latest on research
The development and roll out of Covid-19 vaccines was a historic moment and the result of a global, collaborative research effort. But without vaccines distributed equitably all over the world, millions still remain vulnerable to infection and illness.
This web page was last updated in 2021. The information provided here may not reflect current developments or research.
Covid-19 vaccines explained
How well do first and second vaccine doses work against Covid-19?
Critics warned against the UK policy of leaving a longer gap between doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. Now we have more data, what do we actually know?
How have Covid-19 vaccines been made quickly and safely?
Unprecedented international cooperation and focus have led to multiple effective and safe Covid-19 vaccines in less than a year, and created a blueprint for future vaccine development.
Read more about Covid-19 vaccines or visit our YouTube channel.
How we're supporting research
We’re supporting global vaccine research and development efforts through CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
CEPI has been funding the development of nine Covid-19 vaccines, including Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna, with several others in phase III clinical trials.
The first-generation vaccines we currently have were developed to target the original virus, so we need to know how effective they are against new and emerging variants, and how to guide development of the next generation of vaccines. That's why it's vital to carry on investing in research.
Vaccines for everyone
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Fair global vaccine allocation is the only way to end the Covid-19 pandemic. Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome, explains why world leaders need to recognise this and ensure a truly global vaccination programme is made available to everyone as fast as possible.
To overcome the pandemic, we have to overcome it everywhere in the world. But we will only succeed if vaccines are available and affordable to all countries.
Here's how governments and international organisations can help make sure that vaccines reach everyone who needs them.
- Invest in the ACT-Accelerator. This global collaboration of health organisations, scientists, businesses, civil society, governments and philanthropies, including Wellcome, is working to get lifesaving tests, treatments and vaccines from the laboratory to the front line. An investment of $16.8 billion is still needed in 2021 to fund this work.
- Donate excess vaccine doses through COVAX. Rich countries that have secured lots of excess vaccine doses must donate these through COVAX, who will ensure that vaccines go where they are needed most.
Reports
Coronavirus treatments and vaccines should first be made available to those who need them most, public polling in several countries shows.
Contact us
To contact someone in the team, email vaccines@wellcome.org.
See everyone who's in our vaccines team.
