AAFP Approves Novavax Booster Recommendations

On Oct. 19, the FDA reissued a Sept. 12, 2022, letter of authorization for the monovalent Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to be given as a first booster dose at least six months after completion of primary vaccination with an authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDA also updated its fact sheets for health care professionals who administer the vaccine and for recipients and caregivers.

Later that same day, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., signed a decision memo allowing the use of Novavax as a booster shot in adults.

Combined, these actions give individuals 18 years and older the option to receive a Novavax monovalent booster instead of the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster if they have completed a primary vaccination series but have not previously received a COVID-19 booster, and if they do not want to receive (or are allergic to a component in) mRNA vaccines.

The Academy’s Commission on Health of the Public and Science, following an expedited review of the evidence, approved the actions Oct. 21. The AAFP has also updated its COVID-19 Vaccine webpage to reflect the latest information.

Booster Details

According to the updated fact sheets, the Novavax monovalent booster will be administered to individuals 18 years and older as a single 0.5 mL dose.

There are no changes to the Novavax vaccination schedule for individuals ages 12 to 17 years. For this age group, Novavax is available as a two-dose primary vaccination series, with doses administered three weeks apart.

While the vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use mRNA, Novavax is a traditional protein-based vaccine that contains the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, along with an adjuvant called Matrix-M to stimulate a response in the immune system.

Members are invited to bookmark the Academy’s COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccine webpages to stay up to date on the latest information.