Article about the new Novavax vaccine:
Novavax's COVID-19 Vaccine: Your Questions Answered
The Novavax vaccine is the fourth vaccine authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. for the prevention of
COVID-19 and another tool in an expanding armamentarium. It’s also unique among the available
coronavirus vaccines in this country in that it uses a traditional virus-blocking technology (one that’s been used against other diseases).
The vaccine was found to be 90% effective against mild, moderate, and severe disease in the company’s Phase 3 trial involving 30,000 participants ages 18 and older,
according to an FDA summary. It’s important to note, however, that the study was conducted prior to the circulation of
Delta and
Omicron variants, so its efficacy against Omicron and its subvariants is unknown....
...
How is Novavax different than the other COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S.?
Though COVID vaccines may utilize different delivery mechanisms, the end result is the same: cells in the body recognize that a spike protein (the spikes you see sticking out of the coronavirus in pictures) doesn’t belong, and the immune system reacts by activating immune cells and producing antibodies to attack the real virus if you get exposed.
But, unlike the other vaccines, Novavax directly injects a version of the spike protein, along with another ingredient that also stimulates the immune system, into the body, leading to the production of antibodies and T-cells. (It injects a version of the spike protein that has been formulated in a laboratory as a nanoparticulate that does not have genetic material inside and cannot cause disease.)
...
Is Novavax effective against Omicron and its subvariants?
The Novavax clinical trial was conducted before the Omicron and Delta variants were circulating, so data doesn’t show how well the vaccine works against BA.5, a subvariant of Omicron that is now the predominant variant in the U.S.
Scientists are working to learn more, and this past May, the company started a Phase 3 clinical trial to test a booster that targets the Omicron variant. It plans to speed up its research on shots tailored for BA.5 and BA.4, another circulating variant.
But, unlike the other vaccines, Novavax directly injects a version of the spike protein, along with another ingredient that also stimulates the immune system, into the body, leading to the production of antibodies and T-cells. (It injects a version of the spike protein that has been formulated in a laboratory as a nanoparticulate that does not have genetic material inside and cannot cause disease.)
[More at link]
