From Pfizer to Comirnaty: Why are there new names for COVID-19 vaccines in Canada?

Health Canada took to Twitter on Thursday to announce new names for its approved COVID-19 brands: Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine will now be known as “Comirnaty,” Moderna's has been dubbed “Spikevax” and AstraZeneca’s will be called “Vaxzevria.” But why and what do they mean?

The changes in-name-only come as both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been given the full rubber stamp, receiving full Health Canada approval for anyone aged 12 and older on Thursday.

As experts note, the act of naming drugs and vaccines is a standardized process and can take a lot of time, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can take several months to occur.

Kat Ward reports.

A pronunciation guide:

Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee)
Spikevax (Spike-vax)
Vaxzevria (vax-ZEV-ria)

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/8195443/covid-coronavirus-vaccine-12-kids-pfizer-moderna/
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