GENEVA: Novavax has received emergency-use authorization from the World Health Organization (WHO) for its updated COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for its use in individuals aged 12 and older. The WHO’s approval follows the authorization granted by US regulators last month for the updated Novavax shot.
The updated vaccine from Novavax specifically targets a variant descendant of the XBB lineage of the coronavirus, which was globally predominant earlier this year. Emergency use listing by the WHO expedites the regulatory approval process, facilitating the importation and administration of the vaccine by member states.
Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine
Novavax faced manufacturing challenges that delayed its regulatory filing during the peak of the pandemic, causing the company to miss out on the initial wave of COVID-19 vaccine distribution that favored mRNA-based vaccines from rivals like Pfizer and Moderna.
The original Novavax COVID-19 vaccine received US authorization in July 2022, arriving later in the market than its mRNA counterparts.
Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines, Novavax’s updated shot relies on a more traditional protein-based technology. This authorization by the WHO positions Novavax’s vaccine as an additional tool in the global effort to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
