Breakthroughs that
change patients’ lives

In 2021, we broke new ground for patients with regulatory approvals for new medicines or indications, the delivery of our life-saving COVID-19 vaccine to populations around the world, and the introduction of a potentially game-changing oral treatment for COVID-19.

  • 1.4 Billion Patients
  • >3 Billion Doses
  • 5 Million Severe Flu Cases
  • 2B Doses: The Pfizer Pledge
  • 38,000 Pfizer Colleagues
  • 300 Bots
  • Hope for 1 in 30,000
  • Treatments for 27 Cancers
  • 20 Rising Stars
  • Fibroid Hope for 5 Million
2021 In Numbers
1.4 Billion Patients
We reached an estimated 1.4 billion patients with our medicines and vaccines. That’s more than one out of every six people on Earth.
2021 In Numbers
>3 Billion Doses
We were able to produce 3 billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in 2021. (And we expect we can manufacture up to 4 billion doses in 2022).
2021 In Numbers
5 Million Severe Flu Cases
Influenza results in approximately five million cases of severe illness and up to 650,000 annual deaths worldwide. Current seasonal flu vaccines prevent only 40% to 60% of the disease in the best-matched seasons. We believe mRNA technology has the potential to improve this situation. The swift delivery of the world’s first mRNA-based vaccine for COVID-19 demonstrates mRNA’s viability as a flexible technology and we believe it has the potential to prevent or treat other diseases, including influenza, subject to regulatory approval.
2021 In Numbers
2B Doses: The Pfizer Pledge
We have pledged 2 billion doses of our COVID-19 vaccine to low- and middle-income countries over 2 years, via government supply agreements, COVAX, government partners’ donation programs, and humanitarian assistance. In 2021, we achieved the first 1 billion doses and we are on track to surpass our 1 billion dose target in 2022.
2021 In Numbers
38,000 Pfizer Colleagues
More than 340 patient advocacy groups and 38,000 Pfizer colleagues participated in Pfizer's first-ever Patients in Focus, a week-long activation of our focus on the patient perspective to build Pfizer’s understanding of the needs of all patients, bring colleagues together to discuss the patient-centric design, and showcase impactful patient advocacy efforts across the company.
2021 In Numbers
300 Bots
Digital is helping us unleash the power of our people — driving innovation, scaling new ways of working and helping colleagues grow their skill sets and access learning opportunities. For example, in finance and operations, we deployed more than 300 bots that reconcile data, create and distribute reports, and proactively identify errors.
2021 In Numbers
Hope for 1 in 30,000
Wilson disease may be a rare genetic disorder, but its impact can be substantial. Found in approximately one in 30,000 people worldwide, Wilson disease is caused by a mutation on a single gene, leading to excessive and potentially life-threatening build-up of copper in parts of the body. Currently, the condition can only be cured by liver transplant, but our new gene therapy partnership aiming to address the underlying cause may offer promise to patients and their families.
2021 In Numbers
Treatments for 27 Cancers
Addressing and overcoming health care inequities around the world is a top priority for Pfizer. These inequities are most apparent in low- and middle-income countries where, historically, access to effective therapies has been difficult, if not impossible. Through our ongoing collaboration with the IDA Foundation, we’re looking to change that and improve access to life-impacting treatments for more than 27 types of cancer.
2021 In Numbers
20 Rising Stars
In early 2021, we launched a Breakthrough Fellowship Program – a nine-year commitment to increase minority representation and enhance our pipeline of diverse leaders. A first of its kind program, it works to advance students and early career colleagues of Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic and Native American descent with a goal of developing 100 Fellows by 2025. Our first cohort of 20 rising senior undergraduates completed the first phase of the program, a 10-week internship, in 2021.
2021 In Numbers
Fibroid Hope for 5 Million
Together with Myovant Sciences we celebrated the United States Food and Drug Administration approval of Myfembree®, a once-daily oral treatment offering relief to the estimated five million women in the U.S. suffering from symptoms caused by uterine fibroids – noncancerous tumors that develop in or on the muscular walls of the uterus.
Patient receives treatment by two healthcare professionals
Scientist holds up and looks at COVID-19 vaccine
Scientist working on flu vaccine in Pfizer lab
Pfizer employees sending COVID-19 vaccines around the world
Participants at Pfizer's Patients in Focus event
Two Pfizer scientist in lab talking
Researcher in Pfizer lab
Healthcare worker adjusting IV bag
Screenshot of Pfizer's first cohort of 20 rising seniors in Pfizer's Breakthrough Fellowship
Masked women looking out window
Albert Bourla Headshot
Vidia Roopchand Headshot
Caroline Roan Headshot
Maritza Lopez Headshot
Christopher Stevo Headshot
Eli Reiser Headshot
Ramcess Jean-Louis Headshot
Connor Jarvis Headshot
“In 2021, we reached an estimated 1.4 billion with our medicines and vaccines. Never before has our patient impact been so wide-reaching.”
Albert Bourla
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
“We have diverse backgrounds but we have one purpose in mind— make vaccines that make the world a better place.”
Vidia Roopchand
Principal Scientist, Viral Vaccines, Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development
“We find innovative ways to bring patients vaccines and medicines they need to live healthy, productive lives.”
Caroline Roan
Chief Sustainability Officer, Senior Vice President of Global Health and Social Impact, and President of The Pfizer Foundation
“I know that what I’m doing is for the welfare of other people...so that they can have a better quality of life.”
Maritza Lopez
Warehouse Inspector, Mexico
“mRNA technology promises to revolutionize the field by rapidly manufacturing vaccines to address many diseases.”
Christopher Stevo
Senior Vice President and Chief Investor Relations Officer
“Pfizer values excellence, courage, and the willingness to disagree. We always support each other to try to improve our science.”
Eli Reiser
Senior Associate Scientist
“We approach DEI with the same Pfizer discipline applied to everything we do—what gets measured, gets improved.”
Ramcess Jean-Louis
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
“Having a job where I see the positive difference and strides we’re making toward sustainability fulfills me.”
Connor Jarvis
Senior Environmental Health and Safety Associate
Our Bold Moves
Pfizer’s growth strategy is driven by five “Bold Moves” that help us deliver breakthroughs for patients and create value for shareholders and other stakeholders. Over the course of 2021, we have made important progress on these Bold Moves.