The CDC has authorized another new vaccine for COVID-19.
The Novavax vaccine has been approved for adults 18 and older, and is given in a two shot series 21 days apart.
Jenny Galbraith is the adult vaccine manager with the North Dakota Department of Health. She says this vaccine works a little bit differently from the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.
"Essentially, instead of having the gene that comes and makes the spike protein within your body, like what happens with the mRNA vaccines, in this particular vaccine the spike protein is already there. It's synthesized from moth cells, and then it just contains an agavent which is something that speeds up the process, and then you're making those antibodies to the COVID-19 virus."
Galbraith says she understands many have had concerns about COVID vaccines – but this shot provides an option that was developed using “older” methods.
"We've heard kind of from the beginning that people are kind of wary of the new mRNA technology, so having something that's already used in the United States for hepatitis B vaccine, for the last 30 years - I think this is a step in the right direction for those who were wary of the mRNA vaccines."
Galbraith says similar to other COVID vaccines, the Novavax series has shown to be effective at protecting against severe illness, hospitalization and death. She says that while newer variants of the virus have been able to evade vaccines – they are still keeping people out of the hospital and from passing away from the virus.
At this time, no booster or additional doses have been authorized for the Novavax vaccine.
