Which vaccine became the first mRNA vaccine authorized for emergency use against COVID-19?

The Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine became the first mRNA vaccine authorized for emergency use against COVID-19.

The United Kingdom granted the vaccine temporary authorization on 2 December 2020, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive such approval anywhere in the world. The product, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, uses messenger RNA to instruct cells to make a harmless version of the coronavirus spike protein. The immune system can then learn to recognize that protein.

The vaccine was known during development as BNT162b2 and later marketed as Comirnaty. Its authorization followed a large Phase 3 trial involving tens of thousands of participants, with efficacy assessed against symptomatic COVID-19.

Moderna’s mRNA vaccine was authorized soon afterward, so the two products are frequently confused in “first mRNA vaccine” questions. The Pfizer–BioNTech product was the first to receive emergency authorization, not necessarily the first mRNA vaccine ever researched.