FDA approves updated Novavax COVID vaccine amid summer surge

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for an updated version of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine amid the summer surge of infections. 

The new version of the vaccine “more closely targets” variants circulating nationwide, therefore providing more protection against “serious consequences” of the virus, including hospitalization and death. It is now permitted for use in people 12 years of age and older and can target the JN.1 strain, the agency said in a news release. 

“The COVID-19 vaccines have had a tremendous positive impact on public health and vaccination continues to be the most effective method for COVID-19 prevention,” Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. 

Marks noted that COVID-19 continues to be a “very real” risk for many individuals and the agency recommends getting the updated shot when people are eligible. 

“Today’s authorization provides an additional COVID-19 vaccine option that meets the FDA’s standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization,” he added. 

The FDA’s approval of the vaccine comes as the federal agency announced approval of both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s updated COVID-19 shots earlier this month, which target the KP.2 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. 

COVID-19 is likely not going away any time soon, even as the virus is no longer considered a pandemic, medical experts have noted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that as of Aug. 16, COVID-19 infections were growing or likely to grow in 27 states. The most dominant strain of the virus was P.3.1.1 at 42.2 percent over a two-week period that ended on Aug. 31., according to CDC’s data.

The JN.1 strain was at 0.2 percent while the KP.2 was at 3.1 percent, per the data.

Coronavirus variants circulating this summer primarily cause symptoms such as chills, fever, runny nose and stuffiness, according to health nonprofit Cedar Sinai.