On Tuesday a panel of some two dozen vaccine experts voted to recommend that the Food and Drug Administration move forward on authorizing Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine.
The two-shot vaccine is based on older vaccine technologies — it offers antigens directly, rather than having the body make them through a process involving mRNA messages (Moderna and Pfizer / BioNTech) or adenoviruses (Johnson & Johnson). As such, it may see use among people who have chosen not to use mRNA vaccines and may be useful as a booster by virtue of its having a different approach.
It is not clear when the FDA would move forward on an emergency use authorization; Novavax just submitted updated manufacturing information on Friday.
Manufacturing problems are blamed for the delayed rollout of the Novavax product.
