Dosing and administration

Preparation and Administration Video

Updated as of 2/19/21

Low Dead-Volume (LDV) Syringes and/or Needles Information Sheet

Updated as of 2/24/2021

For individuals 16 years of age and older

Vaccine is administered as
a series of 2 doses three weeks apart

Day 0

30 mcg (0.3 mL)

Intramuscular Injection

Day 21

30 mcg (0.3 mL)

Intramuscular Injection

Multiple Dose Vial – Six Doses

After dilution, vials of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine contain six doses of 0.3 mL of vaccine. Low dead-volume syringes and/or needles can be used to extract six doses from a single vial. If standard syringes and needles are used, there may not be sufficient volume to extract a sixth dose from a single vial. Irrespective of the type of syringe and needle:

Description

Each dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine contains 30 mcg of a nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) encoding the viral spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2.

It also includes the following ingredients: lipids (0.43 mg (4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate), 0.05 mg 2[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 0.09 mg 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 0.2 mg cholesterol), 0.01 mg potassium chloride, 0.01 mg monobasic potassium phosphate, 0.36 mg sodium chloride, 0.07 mg dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, and 6 mg sucrose. The diluent (0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP) contributes an additional 2.16 mg sodium chloride per dose.

Dosing and Schedule

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is administered intramuscularly as a series of 2 doses (0.3 mL each) 3 weeks apart.

There are no data available on the interchangeability of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine with other COVID-19 vaccines to complete the vaccination series. Individuals who have received one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine should receive a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to complete the vaccination series.

Dose Preparation

The Pfizer‑BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Multiple Dose Vial contains a frozen suspension that does not contain preservative and must be thawed and diluted prior to administration
Vials may be thawed in the refrigerator or at room temperature [up to 25°C (77°F)]
Prior to dilution, the thawed suspension may contain white to off-white opaque amorphous particles
The contents of the vial must be diluted with 1.8 mL of sterile 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP to form the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
After dilution, the vial contains 6 doses of 0.3 mL of vaccine
0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP is not packaged with the vaccine and must be sourced separately. Do not use bacteriostatic 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection or any other diluent. Do not add more than 1.8 mL of diluent. Please see the Q&A section for more information on dose preparation
After dilution, the vaccine will be an off-white suspension. Inspect vials to confirm there are no particulates and no discoloration is observed
Strict adherence to aseptic techniques must be followed

Thawing Prior to Dilution
	Thaw vial(s) of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine before use either by: Allowing vial(s) to thaw in the refrigerator [2°C to 8°C (35°F to 46°F)]. A carton of vials may take up to 3 hours to thaw, and thawed vials can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days (120 hours) Allowing vial(s) to sit at room temperature [up to 25°C (77°F)] for 30 minutes Using either thawing method, vials must reach room temperature before dilution and must be diluted within 2 hours
	Invert Before dilution invert vaccine vial gently 10 times Do not shake Inspect the liquid in the vial prior to dilution. The liquid is a white to off-white suspension and may contain white to off-white opaque amorphous particles Do not use if liquid is discolored or if other particles are observed
	Dilute Obtain sterile 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP. Use only this as the diluent Using aseptic technique, withdraw 1.8 mL of diluent into a transfer syringe (21-gauge or narrower needle) Cleanse the vaccine vial stopper with a single-use antiseptic swab Add 1.8 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP into the vaccine vial
	Equalize Equalize vial pressure before removing the needle from the vial by withdrawing 1.8 mL of air into the empty diluent syringe
	Invert Gently invert the vial containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine 10 times to mix Do not shake Inspect the vaccine in the vial The vaccine will be an off-white suspension. Do not use if vaccine is discolored or contains particulate matter
	Record and Store Record the date and time of dilution on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine vial label Store between 2°C to 25°C (35°F to 77°F) Discard any unused vaccine 6 hours after dilution

Preparation of Individual 0.3 mL Doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
	Cleanse Using aseptic technique, cleanse the vial stopper with a single-use antiseptic swab, and withdraw 0.3 mL of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine preferentially using low dead-volume syringes and/or needles Each dose must contain 0.3 mL of vaccine If the amount of vaccine remaining in the vial cannot provide a full dose of 0.3 mL, discard the vial and any excess volume Administer immediately

Preparation of Individual 0.3 mL Doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Cleanse

Using aseptic technique, cleanse the vial stopper with a single-use antiseptic swab, and withdraw 0.3 mL of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine preferentially using low dead-volume syringes and/or needles
Each dose must contain 0.3 mL of vaccine
If the amount of vaccine remaining in the vial cannot provide a full dose of 0.3 mL, discard the vial and any excess volume
Administer immediately

Administration

Visually inspect each dose in the dosing syringe prior to administration. The vaccine will be an off-white suspension. During the visual inspection,

Administer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine intramuscularly.

Review the Product Safety Data Sheet for the vaccine. In the event of vial breakage, damage, or leakage, to prevent cuts and exposure to the vaccine, do not handle the vial with bare hands; wear protective gloves. Remove broken glass with forceps, tongs, or other appropriate tools. Dispose of the vial and vial pieces in a medical sharps container.

Important Safety Information
- Do not administer Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to individuals with known history of a severe allergic reaction (eg, anaphylaxis) to any component of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- Appropriate medical treatment used to manage immediate allergic reactions must be immediately available in the event an acute anaphylactic reaction occurs following administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
  
  Monitor Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine recipients for the occurrence of immediate adverse reactions according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/managing-anaphylaxis.html)
- Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may not protect all vaccine recipients
- In clinical studies, adverse reactions in participants 16 years of age and older included pain at the injection site (84.1%), fatigue (62.9%), headache (55.1%), muscle pain (38.3%), chills (31.9%), joint pain (23.6%), fever (14.2%), injection site swelling (10.5%), injection site redness (9.5%), nausea (1.1%), malaise (0.5%), and lymphadenopathy (0.3%)
- Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and other hypersensitivity reactions have been reported following administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine during mass vaccination outside of clinical trials
  Additional adverse reactions, some of which may be serious, may become apparent with more widespread use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- Available data on Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine administered to pregnant women are insufficient to inform vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy
- Data are not available to assess the effects of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion
- There are no data available on the interchangeability of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine with other COVID-19 vaccines to complete the vaccination series. Individuals who have received one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine should receive a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to complete the vaccination series
- Vaccination providers must report Adverse Events in accordance with the Fact Sheet to VAERS online at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. For further assistance with reporting to VAERS call 1-800-822-7967. The reports should include the words “Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA” in the description section of the report
- Vaccination providers should review the Fact Sheet for Information to Provide to Vaccine Recipients/Caregivers and Mandatory Requirements for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Under Emergency Use Authorization
- Before administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, please see Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) including Full EUA Prescribing Information available at www.cvdvaccine-us.com

Ensuring the Authenticity of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Pfizer is committed to patient safety and ensuring that people have accurate information about the investigational Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, including how it is accessed and administered. We are actively monitoring for fraudulent offers of illegitimate Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines to protect patients from products that might be dangerous and lead to serious and life-threatening harm
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to permit the emergency use of the unapproved product, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 16 years of age and older.
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is only administered intramuscularly by a healthcare professional
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is not taken orally and is not available in a capsule or tablet form
Authentic Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines, manufactured by Pfizer Inc., will include the Pfizer and BioNTech names on the label and are dispensed in a vial with a purple cap
Ensure the safety of the vaccine vials by limiting access to only authorized personnel. The location they are stored in must be secure and locked when not in use. To prevent counterfeits, discard vaccine vials in sharps containers and empty vial trays as medical waste or deface or safely crush all materials so they cannot be reused. Remember, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines are only available through government-authorized vaccination centers – such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, pharmacies, and community vaccination locations. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine can only be administered by licensed healthcare professionals, or other individuals that are approved vaccinators, at government-authorized vaccination sites. Individual doses are not for sale

If you suspect the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine you have purchased may be counterfeit, contact us at 1-800-438-1985 or visit https://www.pfizer.com/products/product-contact-information.

To learn more, visit https://www.pfizer.com/counterfeiting/frequently-asked-questions.