The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday signed off on Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine to use as a first booster dose for people aged 18 and older.
After the FDA gave an emergency use authorization to the Novavax booster on Wednesday, the CDC recommended its use hours later. The Novavax shot differs from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in that it doesn’t use mRNA and differs from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it doesn’t use an adenovirus. The shot “contains the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and Matrix-M adjuvant,” the FDA said, referring to the virus that causes COVID-19.
“Adjuvants are incorporated into some vaccines to enhance the immune response of the vaccinated individual. The spike protein in this vaccine is produced in insect cells; the Matrix M-adjuvant contains saponin extracts from the bark of the Soapbark tree that is native to Chile.” Specifically, the vaccine is based on an older technology that has been used for decades to combat diseases including hepatitis B and influenza. The company previously said it developed the vaccine for people who are hesitant to receive the Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson shots.