A fifth covid vaccine, US-based Novovax, has been approved by health officials for its use in Ireland.
The Nuvaxovid vaccine, produced by Novavax, was approved by the European Medicine Agency in December and will now be included in Ireland’s booster vaccination program for people aged 18 years and older.
The vaccine is given in two doses with an interval of three weeks between doses.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly has announced by accepting the recommendations made by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), that Novavax’s vaccine, also known as NVX-CoV2373, can now be used to vaccinate those aged 18 years of age and older.
“This is the fifth Covid-19 vaccine authorised for use in Ireland and is a welcome addition to our vaccination program as it provides another option for adults who remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated This particular vaccine, Nuvaxovid, is a spike protein-based vaccine and is the first Covid-19 vaccine to be approved that is based on that used in existing vaccines with which we are very familiar including Hepatitis B and whooping cough,” Mr. Donnelly said.
“The vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in preventing symptomatic, moderate, and severe disease. We expect the vaccine to be available next month, and I would urge the small number of people who have yet to come forward for a primary course of a Covid-19 vaccine to do so.” He added.
Results from two main clinical trials found that Nuvaxovid was effective at preventing Covid-19 in people aged over 18. The first study, conducted in Mexico and the United States, found a vaccine efficacy of 90.4%. And A second study in the UK found the vaccine efficacy of 89.7%.