France, Italy, Spain Expand Maryland's COVID-19 Vaccine Use

Novavax Inc. today announced that health leaders in Spain, Italy, and France released updated recommendations expanding the use of the protein-based Nuvaxovid™(NVX-CoV2373) COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 18 and older (adults) in their respective countries.

As of January 5, 2023, Novavax' COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use as an adult booster in more than 35 countries, and several other countries have policy recommendations allowing the use of the vaccine as a booster dose.

• In Spain, the Public Health Commission released its autumn/winter recommendation stating that Nuvaxovid may be used as a booster dose in adults after primary vaccination with mRNA, adenoviral vector, or protein vaccines, regardless of the number of previous booster doses, at least five months from the last dose administered.
• In Italy, the Ministry of Health recommended extending the use of Nuvaxovid in adults as a homologous booster and as a heterologous booster after primary vaccination with mRNA or adenoviral vector, where the use of an mRNA vaccine is not deemed appropriate.
• In France, the Haute Autorité de Santé recommended using Nuvaxovid as a two-dose primary vaccination series in adolescents aged 12 through 17 who have not yet been vaccinated and do not wish to or cannot receive an mRNA vaccine. 

Furthermore, Novavax' COVID-19 vaccine is also authorized for use in adolescents aged 12 through 17 in more than 30 markets, including the U.S., member states in the European Union, and the United Kingdom.

Previously, Novavax announced a potential solution for the next flu season.

The company initiated a phase 2 clinical trial for its COVID-19-Influenza Combination in older adults aged 50 through 80.

Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax, stated in a press release issued on December 30, 2022, "We believe that like influenza, COVID-19 will also be seasonal moving forward and that there is room in the market for new alternatives to provide better protection against the impact of influenza, particularly in older adults, and to explore the potential to combine this with protection from COVID."

Novavax, Inc. is a biotechnology company that promotes improved health globally through the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases.

Disclosures: This is not paid content and no industry conflicts of interest.