The Food and Drug Administration authorized the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to be used in emergency situations for adults on Wednesday, becoming the fourth FDA-approved vaccine in the U.S.
The newest vaccine will be issued as a primary two-dose series three weeks apart. Pharmacies will be able to begin administering the Novavax vaccine shortly after it’s signed off on by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisers. They’re slated to meet on Tuesday next week.
The vaccine could change the minds of the 1 in 3 individuals who have chosen not to get vaccinated. It was developed differently than the Pfizer andModerna vaccines which relied on using more recent messenger RNA technology. Instead, the Novavax version of the vaccine is more closely related to the proven technology that has been used for decades to fight Hepatitis B and HPV.
“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,” FDA commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement.
Novavax is hoping to be approved to use their vaccine as booster shots as well.
The Biden administration announced on Monday that it had secured 3.2 million doses in an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense.
