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Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccines

Tim Root, Assistant Head, NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service, Specialist Pharmacy ServicePublished Last updated See all updates
Topics: All vaccines: Handling Multiple Vaccines

Each COVID-19 Vaccine has different nomenclature specific to the vaccine and the context of use.

This article forms part of a series
  1. Safe practice for handling multiple COVID-19 vaccines
    1. Good governance guidance when handling multiple COVID-19 vaccines
    2. Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccines
    3. Minimising the risk of administration of the wrong COVID-19 vaccine
    4. Checklist for safety briefing when using multiple COVID-19 vaccines
    5. Checklist for pharmaceutical oversight when using multiple COVID-19 vaccines
    6. Checklists for clearing down and setting-up of COVID-19 vaccination stations
Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech (10micrograms/dose) concentrate for Children 5-11 years
    1. Manufacturer’s name
    2. Common name
    3. Brand Name
    4. INN
  3. Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech (30 micrograms/dose) concentrate for Adults/Adolescents
    1. Manufacturer’s name
    2. Common name
    3. Brand Name
    4. INN
  4. Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
    1. Manufacturer’s name
    2. Approved name
    3. Common name
    4. Brand Name
  5. Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna
    1. Manufacturer’s name
    2. Approved name
    3. Common name
    4. Brand Name

Introduction

Vaccine nomenclature for each vaccine is summarised below.

For training and communication purposes the manufacturer’s name should be used; for computer records the approved name is the standard.

Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech (10micrograms/dose) concentrate for Children 5-11 years

Manufacturer’s name

Comirnaty 10 micrograms/dose concentrate for dispersion for injection Children 5 to 11 years old COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (nucleoside modified)

Common name

The COVID-19 vaccine is commonly known as:

Pfizer vaccine for Children

Comirnaty vaccine for Children

Comirnaty 10 micrograms/dose concentrate for Children 5-11 years

Brand Name

Comirnaty® (10micrograms/dose) concentrate

INN

The International Non-proprietary name is:

Tozinameran

Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech (30 micrograms/dose) concentrate for Adults/Adolescents

Manufacturer’s name

Comirnaty® 30 micrograms/dose concentrate for dispersion for injection Adults/Adolescents COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (nucleoside modified)

Common name

The COVID-19 vaccine is commonly known as:

Pfizer vaccine for Adults/Adolescents

Comirnaty® vaccine for Adults/Adolescents

Comirnaty® 30micrograms/dose concentrate for Adults/Adolescents

Brand Name

Comirnaty® (30micrograms/dose) concentrate

INN

The International Non-proprietary Name is:

Tozinameran

Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

Manufacturer’s name

Vaxzevria®, suspension for injection

Approved name

COVID-19 Vaccine (ChAdOx1 S [recombinant])

Common name

The Oxford vaccine

AZ vaccine

Brand Name

Vaxzevria®

Nomenclature for COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna

Manufacturer’s name

Spikevax® dispersion for injection

Approved name

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (nucleoside modified)

Common name

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Spikevax®

Brand Name

Spikevax®

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Contents
  1. Change history

Change history

  1. Added information for Comirnaty 10microgram/dose and for Comirnaty 30 microgram/dose
  1. Formatting updated. INN added for Comirnaty
  1. Brand names Vaxzevria and Spikevax added
  1. Brand name Comirnaty added.
  1. Published