Dec 20, 2021, 10:50am
The European Union approved the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine for use in adults in the bloc on Monday, a major step forward for a fifth coronaviruses shot cleared to use in the region.
A silhouette of hands holding a medical syringe in front of a Novavax logo is displayed on a screen. The photo illustration was created by Cezary Kowalski.
The images are from the website SOPA Images and LightRocket.
The EU's executive commission needs to approve the marketing authorization for the two-dose Novavax vaccine before it can be distributed in the region.
The human medicines committee of the European Medicines Agency determined that the vaccine met the EU criteria for efficacy, safety and quality.
The World Health Organization approved the vaccine for emergency use last week, allowing more countries to receive the shot under the Covax program.
Novavax said earlier this month that it is testing the shot against the omicron variant and is developing a vaccine if it is needed.
The Novavax shot will become the fifth vaccine option for Europeans if it is confirmed by the EU.
The executive commission makes a final decision after the vaccine is confirmed. Novavax expects the executive commission decision to be imminent and will start shipping vaccines to the European Union in January. Novavax will file with the FDA by the end of the year.
The number is big.
100 million. The EU has an option to order up to 100 million additional doses of the vaccine, according to the Associated Press.
The key background.
Emergency use of the Novavax vaccine was approved in Indonesia last month. It's not an mRNA vaccine, but is similar to other vaccines which have been on the market for decades, so it could be a good choice for people who have been hesitant to receive a jab. The Novavax shot is cheaper to make and easier to store than other vaccines, which need to be kept at freezing temperatures. The U.K. broke the highest daily case record three days in a row last week, and the Netherlands imposed a new nationwide lock down after a new outbreak of Covid-19.
The WHO grants emergency use approval for Novavax Covid Vaccine.
The Novavax Covid-19 Vaccine could help reduce vaccine hesitancy in the US if approved.
Here is what you need to know about the first emergency authorization of the novavax covid-19 vaccine.
