10 Best-Performing Countries for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Published on September 3, 2021 at 9:26 am by Omer Farooq in Lists, News

In this article, we will list the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc and has made its way through almost every country across the globe for over a year now, resulting in more than 212 million cases, of which over 4.44 million have resulted in deaths. The initial approach of every country was to enforce lockdowns, issue guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus, restrict international travel, and then regional travel too. Governments, multilateral organizations, and private firms have poured in billions of dollars to develop effective vaccines to battle COVID-19 since the immunization of the world’s population is important to get a hold of the spread of the virus.

Unfortunately, this goal is met with its challenges, including dangerous new mutations of the virus such as the delta-variant, global competition over a limited supply of doses, and public skepticism related to vaccines.

It was not until December 2020 that the first mass vaccination program started. The Pfizer vaccine was listed for WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) on 31 December 2020. The Covishield and AstraZeneca vaccines were given EUL on 16 February. The Janssen vaccine was listed for EUL on 12 March 2021. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was listed for EUL on 30 April 2021. The Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine was listed for EUL on 7 May 2021 and the Sinovac-CoronaVac was listed for EUL on 1 June 2021.

In February it was reported by the World Health Organization, that the number of people who have become partially vaccinated on receiving at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine exceeded the number of people infected. According to Our World in Data 4.97 billion doses have been administered globally. 2.54 billion people around the world have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 1.91 billion people have received both doses and are completely vaccinated against COVID-19. 34.91 million doses are now administered each day, and only 1.4% of people in low-income countries have received at least 1 dose.

Among the biggest vaccine manufacturers, we have Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). These companies are constantly involved in the research and development of the optimal COVID-19 vaccine, that will hopefully rid us of this nightmare of a pandemic.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Our Methodology

To compile this list of the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations, we took a look at statistics put forth by Our World in Data. Their vaccination dataset uses the most recent official numbers from governments and health ministries worldwide. The population estimates they used to calculate per-capita metrics are all based on the last revision of the United Nations World Population Prospects. To filter out the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations, we studied their dataset and shortlisted the countries based on 3 metrics: Share Of People Fully Vaccinated, Share Of People Partially Vaccinated, and Total Share Of People Vaccinated. We ranked the countries in increasing order of the first metric since it is most relevant to the success of a country with COVID-19 vaccinations. The second and third metrics give an idea as to how much of a country’s populace is in the process of getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Note: All data is as of August 24.

With this context in mind, let’s now take a look at the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations.

10 Best Performing Countries for COVID-19 Vaccinations

10. Canada

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 65%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 8%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 73%

Canada is one of the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations. Canada did not slack when it came to battling the pandemic since more than half of its population has received the second dose and is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Canada has issued new policies for air travelers, that will require them to carry proof of their vaccination. The policy is to be effective immediately, no later than October this year. The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Canada is 52.38 million. 24.7 million residents of Canada are fully vaccinated against the virus, 2.84 million people are awaiting their second dose. The case fatality rate (CFR) recorded for Canada according to the most recent entries sits at 0.89%.

Among the biggest vaccine manufacturers, we have Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Sinovac, and Sinopharm. Of these, the vaccines that were manufactured by Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), and BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) were administered in Canada.

9. Belgium

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 67%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 5%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 72%

Belgium is another country that has taken vaccinations seriously. 67% of the populace of Belgium has received their second doses of vaccines from Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) and BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX), becoming completely vaccinated against COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Belgium is 15.78 million. Out of the 11.6 million inhabitants of Belgium, 8.33 million have received at least one dose of vaccinations becoming partially vaccinated. 7.80 million people are completely vaccinated against COVID-19. The ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases (CFR) recorded for Belgium according to the most recent entries sits at 0.25%, one of the lowest in our list of the 10 best performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations. The CFR for Belgium has stayed below 1% since the mid of May up till now.

8. Spain

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 67%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 9%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 76%

Spain is making efforts to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. It was announced that Coronavirus restrictions are to be in place in Spanish schools since half of the students are due to get vaccinated. Experts are confident that infections will be kept low despite the new delta-variant the virus has taken the form of. 63.09 million vaccine doses have been administered in Spain, vaccinating 76% or 35.44 million people in total, of which 31.1 million are completely vaccinated against COVID-19. The ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases (CFR) recorded for Spain fell to its lowest around the end of July, at 0.08%, but has since then risen to 0.60% as of writing this article (August 24). Even though the CFR has risen from a record low, it is still below 1%. This along with the fact that more than half of Spain’s inhabitants are fully vaccinated and the government is ensuring restrictions to remain in place until we get rid of the pandemic for good merits Spain’s 8th rank on the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The country is providing vaccines made by companies like Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Sinovac, and Sinopharm.

7. Portugal

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 67%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 12%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 79%

Moving on, we have Portugal among the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations. The country has been successful in getting itself vaccinated. About 79% of its 10.16 million residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines. The case fatality rate (CFR) recorded for Portugal has stayed around below 1% since mid-April, and is currently bordering on 0.5%. The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Portugal is 14.15 million. Out of its 10.16 million inhabitants, 6.88 million are fully vaccinated against the virus, and about 12% of people who received at least one dose are awaiting their second dose.

6. Qatar

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 68%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 11%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 79%

Qatar has significantly increased the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people, from about 100 doses per 100 people around this time of last month to 147.60 per 100 now. The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Qatar now sits at 4.25 million. The current population of Qatar is 2.93 million, out of which 2.27 million people have received at least one dose of vaccinations becoming partially vaccinated. Of the 79% vaccinated individuals, 1.98 million people are completely vaccinated against COVID-19. The ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases (CFR) recorded for Qatar according to the most recent entries sits at 0%, and that too for over 20 days now. The CFR for Qatar is the lowest in our list of the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations.

5. Chile

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 69%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 5%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 74%

Moving on, we have Chile among the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations. The country has been successful in getting the majority of its population vaccinated. 74% of its 19.3 million residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Chile is 27.96 million. 13.28 million of its inhabitants are fully vaccinated against the virus, and about 5% of people who received at least one dose are awaiting their second dose. These numbers, however, do not go well with the CFR recorded for Chile. The ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases for Chile saw a spike at the beginning of this month and peaked at 6.26%. It then dropped down and is currently resting at 4.6%.

Pixabay/Public Domain

4. Denmark

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 69%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 6%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 75%

Among the top 5 of the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations, we have Denmark. Denmark is a relatively small country, having a population of 5.8 million people. The country picked up pace in June this year and has had an increasing curve since then. Only 22.18% of its entire population was vaccinated as of June 1st, 2021. About 69.61% of its population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 75.5% has received at least one dose of vaccinations. 8.36 million vaccine doses have been administered in Denmark. The ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases (CFR) recorded for Denmark has remained well below 0.5% since Denmark moved fast in getting its people fully vaccinated, and currently rests at 0.10%. This along with the fact that more than half of Denmark’s inhabitants are fully vaccinated makes Denmark one of the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations.

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3. Uruguay

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 71%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 5%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 76%

Uruguay earned a position among the top 3 of the 10 best performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations, mostly due to the fact that more than 71% of its people are vaccinated completely against COVID-19. About 5% will be added to this number as people who received the first dose of vaccinations, go in for their second. 5.34 million vaccine doses have been administered in Uruguay as of writing this article. The ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases (CFR) recorded for Uruguay has fluctuated between 1% and 2%, and currently sits in the middle at 1.5%. Uruguay’s Defense Minister Javier Garcia has issued orders for the gradual reopening of borders to foreigners keeping health protocols in place so that it won’t affect the country’s health conditions.

Pixabay/Public Domain

2. Singapore

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 74%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 4%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 78%

Singapore was successful in getting 74% of its population fully vaccinated against the Delta variant which has made its way through the entire country. 4.56 million of the 5.9 million people in Singapore have received at least 1 dose of vaccines against COVID-19, with 4% of the vaccinated individuals waiting to get the second dose and add to the share of fully vaccinated people. A total of 8.75 million vaccine doses have been administered in Singapore. The ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases rested at an absolute 0% for most of the time this year with occasional spikes that peaked at 1.73%. Currently, the CFR for Singapore rests at 1.32%.

Pixabay/Public Domain

1. The United Arab Emirates

Share Of People Fully Vaccinated: 74%
Share Of People Partially Vaccinated: 10%
Total Share Of People Vaccinated: 84%

Topping our list of the 10 best-performing countries for COVID-19 vaccinations is the United Arab Emirates which has been successful in vaccinating 84% of its populace with at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccinations. 7.35 million people are fully vaccinated against the virus, and 1.01 million people are due to receive their second doses. The UAE has the most remarkable trend of the ratio between confirmed deaths and confirmed cases, which has seen a maximum spike of 0.51% since the time of its recording. The most recent CFR for UAE sits at 0.22%. The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention reported 990 cases of Covid-19 that were detected through 325,118 additional tests. They also reported 1675 recoveries and only 2 fatalities. The total number of cases in UAE as of August 24 is 711,428, with total recoveries sitting at 694,260, and the death toll at 2,026. These numbers along with the fact that it has the highest share of the vaccinated population make it the best-performing country for COVID-19 vaccinations.