Which countries have authorized Pfizer vaccines?

At a Glance: Which Countries Have Approved the Pfizer Vaccine – And What’s Behind Their Decisions?

Curious about which countries have authorized the Pfizer (sometimes mistakenly written as "Pfiser") COVID-19 vaccines, and how these approvals really happen? This article breaks it all down—from the major players who jumped in quickly, to the subtle variations in national standards, and even what it felt like the first time I helped a friend through the sign-up process. We’ll walk through actual screenshots, peek over the shoulders of regulators, and take a few detours to reveal what professional forums and real, on-the-ground experts say (with links to prove it). Whether you’re prepping for travel, making an import/export decision, or just wondering if your country’s process is standard, this guide pulls together all the available facts, mistakes, and surprises.

What Problem Can We Solve Here?

Let’s get right to the point: If you want a straight answer to “Which countries have authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines?”—I’ll list them, but the story matters too. Because what constitutes “authorization” can change, and often the real-world experience is less about the official news, more about what you can prove at the border, in hospitals, or even on travel apps. To give you the most useful answer, I’m going beyond dry lists—this is about practical steps, policy differences, and what it's like inside those confusing processes.

1. What Are Pfizer’s Authorized Vaccines (and Why Does the Name Change)?

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine—its full name is “BNT162b2,” often called “Comirnaty” in many countries—was developed in partnership with Germany’s BioNTech. Here’s the first cliffhanger: Not every country uses the Pfizer/BioNTech name or formulation. Some roll out different versions or combine dosing schedules, which… yes, makes confirming foreign acceptance a nightmare. In practice, most governments follow guidelines set by major health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and domestic equivalents.

2. Which Countries Have Officially Approved the Pfizer Vaccine as of Mid-2024?

The list is massive—Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first or among the very first COVID vaccines to receive emergency authorization in a range of countries. Here’s a (non-exhaustive but verified) selection of authorizing countries and their health authorities, quoting their actual documents:

• United States: The FDA granted full approval to Comirnaty in August 2021 for ages 16+, with an EUA for younger age groups. [FDA Official Statement]
• European Union/EEA: The EMA authorized Pfizer/BioNTech across all 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. [EMA Press Release]
• United Kingdom: The UK’s MHRA was famously the world’s first to grant emergency approval, on December 2, 2020. [UK Government Release]
• Canada: Approved in December 2020; Health Canada maintains a clear status page. [Health Canada Data]
• Australia & New Zealand: Approved by TGA (Australia) and Medsafe (NZ) respectively. [TGA Statement] [NZ Medsafe]
• Japan & South Korea: Japan’s MHLW and Korea’s MFDS gave formal approval. [Japan MHLW Release] [Korea MFDS]
• China (Hong Kong, Macau): Mainland China doesn’t use Pfizer for its national rollout, but Hong Kong and Macau authorities have authorized it as "Comirnaty". [Hong Kong COVID Vaccine Portal]
• India: Approved as "Comirnaty", but for imports only. [Press Information Bureau]
• Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico: All have granted emergency approval, using local ANVISA, ISP, ANMAT, and COFEPRIS evaluations. [Brazil ANVISA] [Mexico COFEPRIS]
• South Africa, Morocco, Egypt: Approved in most major African economies, with some countries still pending full regulatory review. [South Africa SAHPRA]

Real talk: nearly 120 countries have authorized some form of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine, according to the Duke Global Health Innovation Center and WHO SAGE status pages.

3. The Mess: Why Are Country Standards Different (And What Exactly Is “Verified Trade”)?

Here’s where it gets tricky: “authorized” doesn’t always mean “accepted at the border” or “valid on an international vaccine pass.” Let’s jump into the international standards, real-life regulations, and (briefly) where those differences cause friction, including a clear table for reference.

The standards that underpin “verified trade” of vaccines and certification tie directly to national regulatory standards and digital infrastructure for verifying batch, date, and origin—WTO (World Trade Organization) and WCO (World Customs Organization) guidelines set only the broadest requirements. (See WCO COVID19 Bulletin)

Case in Point: EU–UK Mutual Recognition Hiccup

Best shown by experience: My cousin, based in Germany, had received two Pfizer doses but faced issues traveling to the UK in early 2022 because the first batch wasn't listed in the UK’s digital database. The UK NHS app wouldn't recognize her German EU Digital Certificate, even though the vaccine lot and documentation matched perfectly. She spent hours on customer hotlines (spoiler: no real fix except a special attestation from her GP). This is the sort of red tape that, despite mutual recognition agreements, can trip up even the “most accepted” vaccine.

As Dr. Andrej Novak (a policy analyst at OECD, in a public webinar on regulated goods) explained: “Every additional layer of domestic confirmation—whether it’s a QR code, batch number, or language of the certificate—can create a new bottleneck for international recognition. That’s not unique to vaccines, but the huge scale and visibility of COVID vaccination made those frictions impossible to ignore.”

How to Check If Pfizer Is Accepted—And What It Looks Like in Real Life

Here’s what actually happens when you try to prove your “Comirnaty” status abroad. When I helped a friend sign up for a vaccine pass in Italy, the process seemed simple: upload your digital certificate, select your vaccine from a dropdown (see sample screenshot below), and wait for an email confirmation. But the devil was in the details—batch codes, correct spelling (“Comirnaty” vs. “Pfizer/BioNTech”), and aligned date formats.

Here’s a real (redacted) screenshot from the Italian health portal:

Below, a forum participant described a similar issue on Reddit’s r/travel:

I got my Pfizer shot in Brazil and the EU system flagged my record because the batch format wasn’t recognized. Had to spend a morning at the airport health desk. Eventually accepted after some much-needed officer patience.

In practice, real users find that most G20 and OECD countries—plus many in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia—legitimately recognize the Pfizer vaccine, but always double-check the entry requirements for “documentation type” and “batch acceptance.” The most authoritative real-time resource remains IATA Travel Centre or your own embassy (I made the mistake once of using a third-party aggregator and nearly missed a connecting flight).

Conclusion: It’s Not Just About the List—But the Proof in Your Hand

So, yes—the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for use in over a hundred countries, and is broadly seen as the “default” Western COVID-19 vaccine for both health and travel purposes. However, actual acceptance depends not only on the country's official regulatory stance, but also on often-overlooked details such as documentation format, batch traceability, and mutual recognition quirks.

My take, after stumbling through the process both for myself and for friends on several continents: always check your documentation twice, bring printed and digital copies, and—when in doubt—have an official translation ready. Regulators, despite best intentions and WTO/WCO baseline guidelines, are often playing catch-up with the real world. For business, trade, or personal travel, don’t trust only the “authorized” list—verify how, and if, that authorization gets honored in practice.

Next steps? If you’re an importer, work directly with local health or customs authorities to match their documentary requirements (see FDA, EMA, or local health department websites). For travelers, check both embassy and airline up-to-date travel advisories, then confirm with the IATA Travel Centre (linked earlier).

For more insights, I recommend the WTO COVID-19 Trade & Health page and this detailed OECD Interim Inventory (May 2022) that continues tracking vaccine recognition.

If you’ve had your own mishap or success story with international Pfizer vaccine authorization or recognition, drop a comment or share a photo—these personal experiences are how we all navigate the messy facts behind the official lists.