As COVID-19 continues to circulate, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an updated emergency use authorization for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday. The new vaccine will be available in the coming days, the company says.
The news about the Novavax vaccine comes as Moderna, one of the three companies that makes COVID-19 vaccines, announced it is testing a combination vaccine against the flu and COVID-19. Older people such as those in long-term care communities are advised to take COVID-19 shots, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The newly approved Novavax vaccine specifically targets omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, and was approved for emergency use in people ages 12 and older. The protein-based vaccine includes an immune-boosting chemical. The technology differs from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots, which use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Last month, updated Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were approved for broad use in every person 6 months and up.
“Novavax’s authorization today means people will now have the choice of a protein-based non-MRNA option to help protect themselves against COVID-19, which is now the fourth leading cause of death in the US,” John Jacobs, CEO of Novavax, said in a statement. “In the coming days, individuals in the US can go to major pharmacies, physicians’ offices, clinics and various government entities to receive an updated Novavax vaccine.”
When researchers tested the Novavax vaccine, the most common adverse reactions were headache, nausea or vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain, tenderness and/or pain at the injection site, fatigue, and malaise.
As of Sept. 23, positive tests were down 1.1% compared to the week before.
A recent study examined how healthcare workers fared after having a COVID-19 vaccine, a flu shot or both. The research found that taking both wasn’t linked to a lower immune response or to more frequent adverse events compared to those who only had a COVID-19 shot.
