Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, sold under the brand names Nuvaxovid and Covovax,[1] among others, is a subunit COVID-19 vaccine developed by Novavax and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).[29]
"Covovax" redirects here. Not to be confused with COVAX or Covaxin.Vaccine description
- AU: S4 (Prescription only)[2][11][12][14][15][16][17]
- CA: ℞-only / Schedule D[18][19][20][21][22]
- UK: POM (Prescription only)[3]
- US: ℞-only with standing order;[23] Unapproved (Emergency Use Authorization) for those aged 12+[24][25][26][27][28]
- EU: Rx-only[4]
- Full list of Novavax vaccine authorizations
Side effects[edit]
The most common side effects include fever, headache, nausea, muscle and joint pain, tenderness and pain at the injection site, tiredness, and feeling unwell.[4]
Additional possible side effects include anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), paresthesia (unusual feeling in the skin, such as tingling or a crawling sensation) and hypoesthesia (decreased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin), and pericarditis (inflammation of lining around the heart).[37]
On 27 January 2023, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration indicated it will add tinnitus to its label.[38]
Technology[edit]
NVX-CoV2373 has been described as both a protein subunit vaccine[41][42] and a virus-like particle vaccine,[43][44] though the producers call it a "recombinant nanoparticle vaccine".[45]
The vaccine is produced by creating an engineered baculovirus containing a gene for a modified SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.[46] The spike protein was modified by incorporating two proline amino acids in order to stabilize the pre-fusion form of the protein; this same 2P modification is being used in several other COVID‑19 vaccines.[47] The baculovirus is made to infect a culture of Sf9 moth cells, which then create the spike protein and display it on their cell membranes. The spike proteins are harvested and assembled onto a synthetic lipid nanoparticle about 50 nanometers across, each displaying up to 14 spike proteins.[41][42][45]
The formulation includes a saponin-based adjuvant[41][42][45] named Matrix-M.
Manufacturing[edit]
In February 2021, Novavax partnered with Takeda to manufacture the vaccine in Japan, where its COVID‑19 vaccine candidate is known as TAK-019.[48]
Novavax signed an agreement with Serum Institute of India for mass scale production for developing and low-income countries.[49] In 2020 it was reported, that the vaccine would be manufactured in Spain[50] and in November 2021 it was reported to be produced in Poland by the Mabion company.[51] As of 2021, antigens were made at Novavax's factory Novavax CZ in the Czech Republic;[52] Novavax CZ was also marketing authorisation holder of its EU authorization.[4]
In May 2021, Serum Institute of India said that it started the production of the Novavax COVID‑19 vaccine candidate branded as Covovax in India after receiving permission from the Indian government.[53]