When COVID-19 first started to spread across the globe, the race to develop a vaccine against it began almost immediately. In record time, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna were all able to develop safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines – vaccines that have essentially put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the worst of the pandemic may be behind us, COVID-19 isn’t going to be completely eradicated anytime soon, and pharmaceutical companies are still working to develop new treatments and preventive measures for the disease. Recently, a new COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax was given an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA. To help you decide if this newly-approved vaccine is the right choice for you, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.
What is the Novavax Vaccine and How Does it Work?
Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine – dubbed Adjuvanted – is a vaccine that contains the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and a Matrix-M adjuvant. Adjuvants are sometimes used to enhance the immune response in vaccinated individuals, and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein found in Adjuvanted is similar to the spike protein found in other mRNA COVID-19 vaccines such as those produced by Pfizer and Moderna. Adjuvanted is administered in a two-dose primary series with three weeks between doses.
In July 2022, the FDA administered an emergency use authorization for Adjuvanted, authorizing its use for “the prevention of COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 18 years of age and older”.
Discussing this emergency use authorization, FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D said, “Authorizing an additional COVID-19 vaccine expands the available vaccine options for the prevention of COVID-19, including the most severe outcomes that can occur such as hospitalization and death. Today’s authorization offers adults in the United States who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine another option that meets the FDA’s rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization. COVID-19 vaccines remain the best preventive measure against severe disease caused by COVID-19 and I encourage anyone who is eligible for, but has not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, to consider doing so. (bobbergdesigns.com) ”
Is the Novavax Vaccine Safe and Effective?
The limited amount of time that COVID-19 vaccines have been available has created concern about their safety. However, this concern is largely unfounded. Though COVID-19 vaccines were indeed produced in record time, they still underwent the same rigorous testing as any vaccine that receives FDA approval.
While it is understandable if you wish to take one of the three original COVID-19 vaccines that have been around for a little longer, you should certainly consider the Novavax vaccine as a safe and effective option as well.
Speaking on the safety and efficacy of Adjuvanted, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D. said, “After a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the data, and assessment of the manufacturing processes and information, as well as input from the FDA’s committee of external independent advisors, the FDA’s medical and scientific experts have determined that the vaccine meets the FDA’s high standards for safety and effectiveness for emergency use authorization. Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted provides another alternative for adults and adds another vaccine to the COVID-19 vaccine supply for the United States. The American public can trust that this vaccine, like all vaccines that are used in the United States, has undergone the FDA’s rigorous and comprehensive scientific and regulatory review.”
Final Thoughts
Everyone is ready to put COVID-19 in the past, but, unfortunately, the pathogen isn’t quite done with us yet. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 remains by far the most effective way to protect yourself against severe illness and can be an effective way to help prevent spreading the disease to others as well. Now that Adjuvanted has received FDA approval, Americans have yet another safe and effective option for keeping themselves protected against COVID-19.
