Novavax Covid-19 Vaccine Is About 90 Per Cent Effective, Finds Large Study

The American biotechnology company, Novavax, has reported on 14 June that the late-stage data from a clinical trial has revealed that its Covid-19 vaccine is about 90 per cent effective against a wide range of virus variants.

The vaccine is also found to be safe and effective in high-risk populations such as the elderly and people with health issues.

The researchers noticed that tenderness and pain at the injection site were the most common side effects.

There have been no reports of unusual blood clots or heart issues.

The company is now on track to file for emergency authorisation in the United States, Europe and elsewhere by the end of September 2021, based on a study of nearly 30,000 volunteers — ages 18 and above — in the United States and Mexico.

Additionally, Novavax also stated that it will be able to produce about 100 million Covid -19 vaccine doses a month by the end of the third quarter of this year and 150 million doses per month in the fourth quarter of 2021.

The Novavax Covid-19 vaccine can be stored in standard refrigerators, which makes it easier to distribute.

Novavax Chief Executive Stanley Erck told The Associated Press: “Many of our first doses will go to … low- and middle-income countries, and that was the goal to begin with.”

The vaccine maker announced the findings in a press release and intends to publish all the details in a medical journal, where the study will be reviewed by independent experts.

Additionally, it was stated that the protein-based Covid-19 vaccine was more than 93 per cent effective against the predominant variants that scientists and public health experts have been concerned about.

Protein-based vaccines, which use purified bits of the virus to stimulate an immune response, are a common technique used in vaccines for whooping cough and shingles.

According to the company, the vaccine was 91 per cent efficient in avoiding severe infection in volunteers at high risk and 100 per cent effective in avoiding moderate and severe novel coronavirus infections.

The Alpha variant, B.1.1.7 — first found in the United Kingdom — became the most prevalent variant in the United States during the Novavax trial.

The company also detected variants of Covid-19 first found in Brazil, South Africa and India among the trial participants.

Dr Gregory Glenn, who is the head of Novavax’s research and development, told Reuters that the vaccine is roughly 70 per cent effective against the variants that Novavax was unable to identify.

He said: "Practically speaking, it's very important that the vaccine can protect against a virus that is wildly swinging around."

However, the company has started its regulatory filing process in India, in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India (SII), which is responsible for producing Novavax shots.

Gavi, the global vaccinations alliance, revealed in May that it had struck a deal to buy 350 million doses of Novavax's vaccine, with delivery expected to begin in the third quarter.