The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved on Friday the emergency use of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for "individuals 12 years of age and older." The approval allows those previously vaccinated to receive one dose, while those who haven't been vaccinated will need two.
Similar to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, this updated version specifically targets the omicron variant JN.1 of the virus while providing increased protection against severe consequences like hospitalization and death.
"COVID-19 continues to be a very real risk for many people, and we encourage individuals to consider getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine when eligible," Director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, said. "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."
