How Do COVID-19 Vaccinations Differ Around the World?
By: Washington State Department Of Health
Tags: Coronavirus, Public Health, Covid 19, Covid 19 Vaccine, International

There are at least 217 countries and territories offering COVID-19 vaccines. They’re all part of the largest vaccination effort in the history of the world. And although they all share a common goal to vaccinate their populations, they have different ways of doing so.

What vaccines are out there?

The U.S. has three FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines available: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. These are three of the 18 vaccines currently in use worldwide. Another 265 vaccine candidates are currently in development, with 95 in clinical testing. While that sounds like a lot, it is absolutely crucial to have this variety in order to vaccinate the entire world.

Rigorous testing is done before vaccines are given to the public, and many vaccine candidates don’t make the cut. All vaccines recommended for use in the U.S. have successfully completed clinical trials and were confirmed as safe and effective.

You can read about which vaccines are available around the world here.

Are there globally authorized vaccines?

Each country has its own authorization and approval process. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the use of vaccines, including COVID-19. Other countries have their own national or regional regulatory agencies that can authorize or approve use.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) does not approve vaccines, vaccine makers can request prequalification by the WHO — a process to determine quality assurance. The WHO similarly maintains an emergency use listing (EUL) for unlicensed vaccines and other medical products during a health crisis. This allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Seven vaccines currently have a WHO EUL.

What are vaccination rates like in other countries?

Over 5 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide, and that number is climbing by hundreds of thousands each day. While that’s great progress, we still have a long road ahead. Just 16% of the global population is fully vaccinated.

In the U.S., we’re fortunate to have such a good supply of vaccines. We’ve already fully vaccinated about 50% of the U.S. population. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many people in other countries.

Only 1.4% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose. In some places, front-line health workers haven’t even received their first shot yet.

Even though international efforts are trying to improve vaccine access around the globe, estimates show that some countries may not reach needed vaccination levels until 2023. Increasing the number of vaccines in development will help address some of the inequities around vaccine supply.

Am I still considered fully vaccinated if I got a vaccine that’s not available in a country I’m traveling to?

It’s ultimately up to the country where you’re traveling to decide. That said, if you are an American traveling internationally, your fully vaccinated status will probably be adequate.

The WHO urged all countries to recognize its EUL vaccines, including the three available in the U.S., but the countries and regions have the final say. For instance, the European Union approved four vaccines for travelers: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Vaxzevria (Oxford/Astra Zeneca).

If you’re considering international travel, your best bet is to first check with the U.S. Department of State and your destination’s Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health. When traveling, be sure to bring your vaccine card and consider taking a cell phone picture of it for easy access. If you’re already enrolled, you can visit MyIR if you lose or misplace your card.

And remember, you are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, before boarding a flight to the U.S.

What about my friends and family who are traveling to the U.S.? Will they be considered fully vaccinated?

It depends. There are still significant restrictions in place for people from other countries traveling to the U.S. We expect to learn more about this soon, once restrictions loosen. If people are traveling to the U.S. on a visa (college students, workers, etc.), we recommend checking with their school or employer for guidance.

Once in the U.S., fully vaccinated visitors SHOULD NOT get vaccinated again. The CDC does not recommend revaccinating patients who completed a COVID-19 vaccine series authorized by the WHO. Learn more about what the CDC recommends for people vaccinated for COVID-19 outside of the U.S.

However, the CDC does recommend FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines for those who:

only partially completed a WHO authorized COVID-19 vaccine series.

received any partial or full COVID-19 vaccine series not authorized by the WHO or the FDA.

Are there other precautions international travelers should take?

Absolutely. COVID cases are increasing worldwide, so it’s important to be extra cautious when traveling. It’s also important to look at local guidance to ensure you’re in compliance with their policies. And if you’re still worried, you can always take some additional steps to protect yourself.

Be diligent about your W’s — especially if you’re unvaccinated: wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance. And for people traveling to Washington, there’s a fourth W — enable WA Notify. It’s a free, anonymous COVID-19 exposure alert for your smartphone.