It’s fall, which suggests it’s time to get up to date on the winter season photographs. That features vaccines for flu, RSV (for infants and the aged) and, for anybody six months or older, COVID-19.
Whereas the brand new mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech have dominated the COVID-19 vaccine story, there’s one other kind of shot that makes use of a extra conventional vaccine-making expertise, utilized by Novavax. The vaccine is producing curiosity amongst some folks on-line preferring the extra tried and true method behind the corporate’s shot, so right here’s what you’ll want to know.
How is Novavax’s vaccine completely different from mRNA vaccines?
Novavax makes use of a protein-based vaccine technique, which suggests folks getting the vaccine obtain a protein made by the virus that their physique’s immune methods then see as international and mount responses in opposition to. mRNA vaccines, in contrast, embrace snippets of mRNA genetic materials from the COVID-19 virus’ spike protein.
Novavax makes its vaccine by first inserting the gene for a SARS-CoV-2 viral protein into an insect virus, then utilizing this loaded virus to contaminate an armyworm, or larva, of a moth that infects cabbages. Utilizing the larva, the virus then produces extra copies of itself, and by default, extra copies of the SARS-CoV-2 protein as effectively, and it’s this COVID-19 protein that’s then used within the vaccine.
Bob Walker, chief medical officer at Novavax, says this technique does a superb job of mimicking the way in which the SARS-CoV-2 virus naturally infects the physique, which may theoretically result in some advantages when it comes to the immune response the vaccine generates, though the corporate and others are nonetheless conducting deeper research to seek out out whether or not that is the case. “The assemble resembles the virus when it comes to how the [body’s] immune cells may see it—the total size of the spike protein that represents the pure configuration of the viral protein,” he says. “And that has sure potential benefits.”
The protein is coupled with what vaccine makers name an adjuvant, or extra compound that additional prompts the immune system to boost the physique’s response to the virus. “One main benefit of the adjuvant is that it really works not solely on the antibody facet when it comes to the immune response, however it additionally prompts the T cells,” says Walker. “And T cells have many capabilities within the physique—one is to struggle viruses, and the opposite is to assist antibody-producing cells to make extra antibodies.”
Is Novavax’s vaccine permitted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA)?
Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine is just not permitted by the FDA but, however it’s out there within the U.S. underneath emergency use authorization, which the FDA issued to the corporate in July 2022, and permits firms to make and distribute a product throughout a public well being emergency whereas the FDA continues to evaluate a broader set of knowledge regarding its security and efficacy. Novavax’s vaccine is protected and efficient, however the company is reviewing extra sturdy and long run information. Novavax has filed for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine and expects a choice from the FDA by April 2025.
Each Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have acquired approval for adults for his or her COVID-19 vaccines, in 2021 and 2022, respectively, after first receiving emergency use authorization in 2020. Their shorter timeline was due primarily to the truth that the mRNA expertise streamlines the event and manufacturing time for the photographs. As a result of Novavax’s vaccine-making course of requires extra time, and various kinds of testing, Walker says it’s taken longer to finish the regulatory necessities for approval. However “with every successive season, we’re getting quicker and extra environment friendly in manufacturing our vaccines, and we predict we will shorten that distinction in time,” he says. “However I don’t know that we’ll ever surpass mRNA [technology’s timeline] simply due to the technological and testing requirement variations.”
Which vaccine gives higher safety in opposition to COVID-19?
Research performed by tutorial researchers over the previous few years constantly present that there are few main variations between the mRNA and Novavax vaccines when it comes to the immune responses they generate. Researchers typically measure this by ranges of neutralizing antibodies that the physique makes in opposition to SARS-CoV-2, which had been comparable throughout all three producers’ vaccines. Some research have additionally checked out T cell responses which additionally look like comparable among the many three photographs to date.
Is one vaccine higher at defending in opposition to the brand new COVID-19 variants?
Over the summer time, the FDA really helpful that vaccine makers goal the KP.2 pressure of SARS-CoV-2 for the upcoming fall and winter season, and research from Moderna, PfizerBioNTech, and Novavax present that every of the corporate’s up to date vaccines present sturdy safety in opposition to this pressure in addition to a number of the even newer ones which have emerged in current months. That is as a result of the entire variants stay associated and are a part of the Omicron group.
I’ve heard Novavax vaccine has fewer negative effects. Is that true?
There haven’t been sufficient rigorous side-by-side comparisons of negative effects and opposed occasions between the mRNA vaccines and the Novavax shot; as an alternative every producer has supplied the FDA with experiences of negative effects that every has seen in its respective research. However it seems that to date, folks receiving the Novavax vaccine could also be reporting fewer occasions comparable to fever, muscle aches, and complications in comparison with these receiving both mRNA vaccine. All COVID-19 vaccines from the three producers have been linked to an elevated danger of irritation of coronary heart muscle, or pericarditis or myocarditis—a lot of the research involving the danger with Novavax’s vaccines have come from outdoors of the U.S.
Which vaccine ought to I get this yr?
“The most effective vaccine is the one that’s in your arm,” says Walker. “We’re within the lucky place that we’ve a number of choices, and usually are not counting on one expertise to realize very excessive ranges of safety and security. The FDA has decided that each one of those vaccines are protected and efficient.”
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