Here Are 3 Things Different About It

“Nova” means “new” in Latin. And the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine that just got emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is definitely new. It’s new in that it’s not fully new. And that might make a big distinction.

The FDA introduced the EUA on July 13, after the FDA’s impartial Vaccines and Associated Organic Merchandise Advisory Committee had voted in favor of the authorization the earlier week, on June 7. The EUA covers these 18 years of age and older. So if you may get a Costco card or get piercings or tattoos by your self, you may get the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine. The Novavax vaccine now joins the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen ones as Covid-19 vaccines accessible within the U.S. for adults.

The Novavax Covid-18 vaccine, which works by the Scrabble-friendly commerce identify “Nuvaxovid,” has been licensed as a two-dose major collection given three weeks. or roughly solely two Scaramuccis aside. Nuvaxovid had already already received authorization for use in the European Union back in December 2021 and in Japan back in April. So the U.S. definitely ain’t going to be the primary nation to make use of the vaccine.

The FDA based mostly its authorization in massive half on outcomes from an ongoing randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled examine of round 17,000 adults in america and Mexico who obtained the vaccine and round 8,300 who obtained a saline placebo as a substitute. There have been 17 Covid-19 instances within the vaccine group versus 79 instances within the placebo group, suggesting that the vaccine was 90.4% efficient in stopping delicate, average or extreme Covid-19. Amongst these 65 years and older, the measured effectiveness was considerably decrease at 78.6%. Of observe, these scientific trial outcomes got here earlier than the delta and omicron variants of the Covid-19 coronavirus hit the scene. So take these effectiveness numbers with an Ugg boot filled with salt.

The trial hasn’t raised any substantial security considerations concerning the Novavax vaccine. Essentially the most generally reported unintended effects had been just like the unintended effects which have been seen with the opposite Covid-19 vaccines akin to irritation on the injection web site (e.g., ache/tenderness, redness and swelling) and common constitutional signs (e.g., fatigue, muscle ache, headache, joint ache, nausea/vomiting and fever). Now, just like the opposite Covid-19 vaccines, there was some enhance within the threat of myocarditis, which is irritation of the muscle groups of your coronary heart, and pericarditis, which is irritation of the membrane that surrounds your coronary heart like Saran Wrap round a chocolate Easter bunny. However the threat of those circumstances from the vaccine look like a lot, a lot decrease than the danger of getting myocarditis or pericarditis from being contaminated with the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Whereas the opposite Covid-19 vaccines might have obtained extra fanfare within the U.S. once they first rolled out again in late 2020 and early 2021, this new “new” vax is just not merely extra of the identical. Moderately, it’s totally different in a number of key methods:

Key Distinction 1: As an alternative of mRNA expertise, the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine makes use of extra conventional vaccine expertise.

As you might have heard by now, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines include mRNA encapsulated in lipoprotein envelopes. These mRNA function blueprints in your cells to fabricate the extreme acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein. These spike proteins stud the floor of the virus making it appear like a spiky therapeutic massage ball or the tip of a type of BDSM maces that your roommate by chance present in your closet. Equally, the J&J Covid-19 vaccine makes use of a modified adenovirus to deliver directions to your cells to make these spike proteins.

Word that these vaccines don’t alter your DNA, as some individuals and nameless anti-vaccination social media accounts have claimed. They gained’t make you develop additional arms, morph right into a sheep, or immediately like Justin Bieber’s track “Child.” Once more, they merely present blueprints for get your cells to supply the spike protein for a restricted period of time in order that your immune system can see these spike proteins and react in spike, so to talk.

Whereas researchers have been engaged on these applied sciences for years, it’s true that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines had been the primary time such mRNA approaches obtained EUAs (and subsequent approvals) from the FDA. The J&J Covid-19 vaccine strategy is just like the strategy lately used for the Ebola vaccine however continues to be totally different from what’s been used for extra conventional vaccines. So some individuals might have been hesitant to get any of the three Covid-19 vaccines which have been accessible since early 2021 contemplating them nonetheless new.

The identical can’t be stated concerning the Novavax one. The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine features a mixture of the particular SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and what’s known as the Matrix-M adjuvant. Novavax makes use of insect cells to supply the spike protein for the vaccine. Together with the precise protein from a virus is an strategy that’s lengthy been used for different vaccines such because the hepatitis B and pertussis vaccines. The Matrix-M is just not a film sequel staring Keanu Reeves and a few peanut butter M&M’s. Moderately it consists of saponin extracts from the bark of Quillaja saponaria (soapbark) bushes together with some ldl cholesterol, and phospholipids. The soapbark tree is native to Chile. The Matrix-M serves as an adjuvant, a compound that may additional enhance your immune response to the spike protein. Together with an adjuvant in a vaccine is just not new both. As described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), varied adjuvants akin to aluminum and MF59 have been utilized in vaccines for many years. The truth is, the AS01B adjuvant within the Shingrix vaccine (the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine to forestall Shingles) consists of QS-21, which can also be extracted from the Chilean soapbark tree. So it’s not as if utilizing a compound from the soapbark tree is totally new both, making this a case the place the bark is just not worse than the potential chunk of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Key Distinction 2: The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine could be transported and saved in customary refrigeration

Not like the extra fragile mRNA, the parts of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine are extra sturdy. Due to this fact, customary refrigeration can suffice slightly than the ultracold circumstances wanted for the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines. This will make it loads simpler to move, retailer, and administer the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine. It may well assist attain places that don’t have the assets to take care of particular freezers.

Key Distinction 3: The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine gives the opportunity of extra heterologous boosting.

This can be one more case of various being good. I’ve coated for Forbes in December 2021 the potential benefit of mixing-and-matching totally different vaccine sorts in your major Covid-19 vaccine collection and boosters. Heterologous boosting is when the kind of booster is totally different from the kind of vaccine used within the major collection. By exposing your immune system to the SARS-CoV-2 in several methods, you can strengthen your immune response similar to relationship various kinds of individuals may also help you higher acknowledge a douchebag or a Harley Quinn. That’s assuming that you simply don’t need a douchebag or a Harley Quinn. Whereas the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna primarily differ within the quantity of mRNA they include and the mRNA vaccine differ from the J&J vaccine within the methods they get your cells to supply the spike proteins, the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine is much more totally different from all three. It will be helpful to conduct research that evaluate varied mix-and-match methods that embody the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine.

To this point, the FDA has solely licensed the first collection of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine and never boosters of the vaccine. Nevertheless, not surprisingly, Novavax has been speaking to the FDA about utilizing their vaccine as a booster to different sorts of Covid-19 vaccines. Authorization of this booster risk would then supply much more heterologous booster prospects. So it will not be too lengthy earlier than, the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine may give you a lift.

Finally, the arrival of the Novavax is doubtlessly excellent information. Not solely may this assist get extra individuals vaccinated, it may additionally function heterologous boosting possibility. It’s a reminder that extra totally different Covid-19 vaccines are wanted as nicely. Analysis and growth of recent Covid-19 vaccines mustn’t sluggish or cease simply because there are already Covid-19 vaccines available on the market. As with most product, selection and competitors are good, resulting in extra innovation and higher merchandise. In spite of everything, you wouldn’t inform all producers to cease designing new footwear just because Crocs and Ugg Boots have already been available on the market.