The Novavax vaccine is another COVID-19 vaccine - the fourth for which the European Medicines Agency has launched the so-called accelerated assessment, i.e. rolling review. How is Novavax different from other COVID-19 vaccines, how is it working, how effective is it, and are the side effects known? Read what we already know about this vaccine.
The Novavaxvaccine against COVID-19 has the working name NVX-CoV2373. This is another preparation, after the Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, to be available in the European Union.
On February 3, 2022, the European Medicines Agency started a procedure to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this vaccine. During it, the results of qualitative and preclinical studies as well as the early stages of clinical trials will be assessed. Preliminary estimates suggest that the Novavax vaccine will not be available until spring. The Polish company Mabion, in which the main component of the vaccine will be produced, will join the production process.
Novavax vaccine - mode of action
Novavax vaccine is a subunit vaccine. It contains the protein of the virus against which antibodies are made. As prof. Aleksandra Zasada, head of the Department of Serum and Vaccine Testing of the National Institute of Public Institution - National Institute of Hygiene, in a statement for the website Naukawpolsce.pap.pl, vaccine technology is widely known and used in vaccines registered for years, e.g. against hepatitis B virus, whooping cough (cell-free vaccines) or some influenza vaccines.
The information provided by the producer shows that the S protein of the virus is produced by recombinant means in insect cells. The vaccine also contains PS80 stabilizing nanoparticles, it also contains an adjuvant (based on saponin), the task of which is to strengthen the immune response to the vaccine.
The Novavax vaccine also differs from other vaccines in that it can be stored in a refrigerator at 2-8 degrees Celsius.
Novavax vaccine - effectiveness
The data provided by the manufacturer shows that in studies conducted in Great Britain,the vaccine showed 89.3 percent. effectiveness in preventing COVID-19. Preliminary studies show that the vaccine has reached 85.6 percent. effectiveness in preventing infection with the British coronavirus variant. British research covered 15 thousand. people aged 18-84, as much as 27 percent. of them are people over 65 years of age.
Novavax vaccine - side effects
Undesirable side effects of Novavax are not known yet - information about them will be included in the Summary of Product Characteristics after authorization of the product.