Canada approves Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults

Vials labelled “VACCINE Coronavirus COVID-19” and a syringe are seen in entrance of a displayed Novavax brand on this illustration taken December 11, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Feb 17 (Reuters) – Canada on Thursday accredited Novavax Inc’s (NVAX.O) COVID-19 vaccine for folks aged 18 years and older, making it the fifth such shot to be cleared to be used within the nation.

The vaccine’s security and effectiveness in folks youthful than 18 years haven’t but been established, Well being Canada stated in an announcement.

Novavax’s recombinant protein vaccine, Nuvaxovid, makes use of a extra established know-how than mRNA, the novel technique behind the 2 mostly used COVID-19 vaccines – from Pfizer-BioNTech (PFE.N) and Moderna (MRNA.O).

Some specialists have voiced hopes that Novavax’s product might persuade as-yet unvaccinated people who find themselves sceptical in regards to the novel mRNA know-how to get a shot. read more

“Having extra authorised COVID-19 vaccines gives provinces and territories with an extra choice … it could assist take away boundaries to vaccination by offering an extra choice to adults who haven’t but obtained a COVID-19 vaccine,” Canada’s chief public well being officer Theresa Tam advised reporters at a briefing.

About 80% of Canadians have obtained two doses of a COVID vaccine, and over 40% have additionally obtained a 3rd or a booster shot.

On Wednesday, Novavax Chief Business Officer John Trizzino stated there may be nonetheless vital demand for vaccination throughout the globe, particularly in gentle of Omicron, the specter of extra variants and a excessive share of unvaccinated individuals who want major vaccination.

“We additionally know that lots of the booster applications which can be in course of proper now will drive demand for our product.”

Whereas Nuvaxovid is just not presently authorised to be used as a booster dose in Canada, it could be supplied as a booster to people who find themselves unable or unwilling to obtain an mRNA vaccine, Tam stated.

The Canadian authorities has dedicated to buy 52 million doses of the vaccine, with an choice to purchase as much as 24 million extra doses. The primary cargo of the vaccine is predicted to reach within the nation in March, well being officers stated.

Novavax has been suffering from provide and manufacturing points in addition to regulatory delays, and has delivered only a small fraction of the two billion COVID-19 photographs it plans to provide worldwide in 2022.

The corporate expects to provide 27 million doses of its vaccine to Europe within the first quarter, however didn’t present steering on what number of general doses it plans to ship through the interval.

Novavax’s protein-based vaccine is being reviewed by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration and has obtained approvals from the European Union and the World Well being Group. read more

Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Modifying by Devika Syamnath and Lisa Shumaker

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.