Deliveries of Novavax coronavirus vaccine to Poland are forecasted for next week, said spokesman of the Ministry of He alth Wojciech Andrusiewicz on Friday. It is a protein vaccine, which, according to experts, may convince people who have not yet done it to get vaccinated. Preliminary research results indicate that it may have fewer potential side effects.
The Novavax vaccine called Nuvaxovid is intended for people aged 18 and over. The European Commission allowed it to be marketed in the EU in December 2022 - it is the fifth vaccine against COVID-19 recommended in the EU.
As MZ spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz said on Friday. "The vaccine is expected to arrive in the week of February 21-25, as announced," he said, adding that deliveries are expected next week. He emphasized that the decision "as to the groups for receiving this vaccine" will also be known.
"We hope that people who so far have been restrained in the vaccination process due to the fact that they had doubts - although they should not have - about vaccines, e.g. mRNA, this vaccine - strictly protein - will be a reason for these people to get vaccinated "- said Andrusiewicz, emphasizing at the same time that every vaccine that we are vaccinating in Poland is safe and effective.
How does the Novavax vaccine work?
The Novavax vaccine uses protein technology, similar to that used, inter alia, in in flu vaccines. It contains 5 µg of the recombinant S protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as 50 µg of the Matrix-M adjuvant, which is based on the saponin from the bark of the true soap tree. After vaccination, the immune system identifies the protein molecules as the aggressor and makes antibodies against them. Thanks to this, in the event of contact with the coronavirus, it recognizes its protein.
The vaccine is administered intramuscularly in two doses, three weeks apart.
Phase 3 trials of Novavax in the United States and Mexico, which included 29,949 participants 18 years and older who had not previously contracted SARS-CoV-2, show that the vaccine is 92.6 percent . effective againstcoronavirus and side effects are more common after the second dose.
The most common side effects of Novavax observed in the study were:
- tenderness and pain at the injection site
- fatigue
- muscle pains
- headache
- feeling unwell
- fever
- nausea and vomiting
- joint pain
According to the WHO recommendation, vaccination with Nuvaxovid is especially recommended for people who are at risk of severe COVID-19 due to comorbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory system diseases or diabetes. suffered from COVID-19 and breastfeeding women in the past.