- This week the FDA approved an updated version of a COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax.
- This shot is effective at preventing infection with Omicron strains of the virus.
On October 3, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of a new, updated vaccine from Novavax against COVID-19 variants.
The protein-based Novavax vaccine will join the ranks of the recently updated mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.
According to the FDA, the Novavax vaccine helps protect against the XBB.1.5 Omicron variant, also known as the "Kraken" variant, for people aged 12 and older.
The vaccine will be available at major vaccination locations soon, including Costco, CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid, USA Today reported.
Here's what you need to know about the new shot.
This shot uses a different technology than the mRNA vaccines
Pfizer and Moderna's shots use mRNA to instruct the body to manufacture a version of the COVID-19 spike protein that the immune system can learn how to fight. But the new Novavax vaccine works differently.
It's a protein-based vaccine, which means it directly gives the body the proteins that are needed to recognize and combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Many other common vaccines are protein-based vaccines, including vaccines for hepatitis B, pneumonia, and whooping cough.
The Novavax vaccine seems to work as well as the other vaccines
Although protein and mRNA vaccines work differently, they are both effective at preventing COVID-19 infection and severe illness.
These updated vaccines are even more protective against newer COVID-19 variants, like the XBB.1.5 variant, which skyrocketed in January 2023.
They may also be effective against other descendants of the Omicron variant, like EG.5, also known as "Eris," which is currently the dominant strain in the US. But they haven't been tested against all the currently circulating sub-variants.
For healthy people, both types of vaccine will produce a similar immune response.
John Moore, a virologist at Cornell University's Weill Cornell Medicine in New York told USA Today that the body produces a similar amount of neutralizing antibodies regardless of the types of vaccines.
Moore also told USA Today that those who experienced a sore arm or headache after receiving previous mRNA boosters may fare better with the Novavax shot.
It's also OK to mix-and-match vaccines; if you got an mRNA vaccine the first time, it's alright to get the Novavax vaccine now.