FDA green-lights Novavax vaccine as COVID-19 levels rise
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday approved an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, bringing a fourth vaccine to the US market against the backdrop of a BA.5 Omicron subvariant surge and lagging vaccine and booster dose uptake.Rollout awaits CDC recommendationThe FDA's approval allows distribution of the vaccine to begin, but before health providers can administer it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must recommend it.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to discuss the topic on Jul 19.In its announcement, the FDA said the vaccine is approved for use as a two-dose primary series in adults (ages 18 and older).
The vaccine is made on a more traditional platform, which officials hope will sway more people to become immunized. The vaccine contains the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein produced in insect calls and contains the Matrix-M adjuvant as an immune booster.The FDA's announcement yesterday came more than a month after its vaccine advisory board recommended EUA approval.
Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced the purchase of 3.2 million Novavax doses.The vaccine is already in use in other parts of the world, including European Union, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Australia.
United States
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Cases: 46 252 513
Deaths: 750 423
Recovered: 0
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India
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Cases: 34 321 025
Deaths: 459 652
Recovered: 0
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Brazil
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Cases: 21 835 785
Deaths: 608 235
Recovered: 0
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United Kingdom
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Cases: 9 215 683
Deaths: 141 607
Recovered: 0
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Russia
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Cases: 8 494 589
Deaths: 237 619
Recovered: 0
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