Dutch Health Service Begins Administering The Novavax Vaccine THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 21: A health worker prepares a dose of the Novavax vaccine as the Dutch Health Service Organization starts
with the Novavax vaccination program on March 21, 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands. The Novavax vaccine is a protein-based vaccine which can offer an alternative for people who are hesitant about immunisation with an mRNA vaccine or vector vaccine, or for people who have a contraindication for mRNA vaccines. U.S. regulators on Wednesday granted emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine made by Novavax to be used as a booster.
“It doesn't make sense to me because we’re already into fall of 2022 and many people have gotten their first booster and are on their second or even third [booster dose]. ... Since the data shows the increased antibodies against the circulating variants, it makes sense for people to get boosted with this even if they’ve had one or two before. So I don’t see any point in that,” Gandhi added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Novavax booster is an option for some people who may be unable to receive an mRNA vaccine such Pfizer’s or Moderna’s because of an allergy to a component of these shots, or because of “a history of a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, or a lack of availability of an mRNA vaccine.”
"Offering another vaccine choice may help increase COVID-19 booster vaccination rates for these adults," said Novavax CEO Stanley Erck inThe Novavax vaccine uses an older and more conventional technology called recombinant protein, which has been used for decades in other vaccines targeting influenza, shingles, human papillomavirus and hepatitis B.