A Fourth Vaccine Has Been Approved
By Valeria Ruiz
Highlights:
Novavax is the fourth vaccine that was just approved by the United States.
The vaccine has new benefits that may lead to increased vaccinations by the public.
Introduction
The United States has just approved the fourth vaccine against COVID-19. Though, the vaccine created by a Maryland pharmaceutical company works differently than the other vaccines.
Novavax
Novavax is the fourth vaccine that was just approved by the U.S. Its doses are expected to play a big role in the world’s immunization campaign.
Its Technology
What makes Novavax different from the other three vaccines is that this vaccine causes an immune response with nanoparticles that are made from proteins that are found in the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. There are similar proteins that have been used in other vaccines for decades.
Benefits and Effectiveness
Novavax requires two doses spaced three weeks apart, and it showed to be 90% effective, which was higher than Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson.
Difference between Omicron
The vaccine was studied prior to the variant's introduction, which significantly decreased the ability of other vaccines to prevent infections. Novavax is created to specifically target Omicron and its extremely contagious variations. A booster shot directed at the BA.1 subvariant, which existed before the current, highly contagious BA.5 version, appears to produce potent immune responses to the virus, according to preliminary results from laboratory and animal tests. It is predicted that doses will be ready in the final three months of the year and results from a clinical trial of that shot will be available in September.
Side Effects
The vaccine from Novavax is associated with a tiny but heightened risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, two types of heart inflammation. In more than a million doses, the business claimed to have found 17 incidences of myocarditis and pericarditis that were either certain or likely. The Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines are also connected to an increased incidence of these ailments, but this association was not discovered until after they were widely used.
Using it as a Booster
Trials have also demonstrated that Novavax's shot is effective as a booster, and the company is soon anticipated to request approval for that application. However, the C.D.C. advised against using it as an option for adults receiving their first coronavirus immunization.
Conclusion
The millions of people who have so far chosen not to get vaccinated may be doing so because they are skeptical of the technology used in mRNA vaccines, but Novavax is hoping that their shot will appeal to them.
In the US, almost 22% of people have not had even one dose of the COVID vaccine.
References
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/19/health/cdc-novavax-covid-vaccine.html
https://www.nytimes.com/news-event/coronavirus?campaign_id=154&emc=edit_cb_20220720&instance_id=67150&nl=coronavirus-briefing®i_id=144365612&segment_id=99058&te=1&user_id=60f68d4673db95bf52023a1f75af66df