Gift Yourself the Best COVID-19 Vaccine Ever

Before attending your next holiday event, there is one COVID-19 vaccine standing out in the crowded immunology market in late 2023.

While COVID-19 cases continue to escalate entering the holiday season, getting a booster dose now may be just what the doctor ordered.

Health experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed that despite COVID-19 fatigue, our best defense is getting vaccinated before visiting friends and family.

Unfortunately, a significant proportion of the global population has not received an updated COVID-19 vaccine as of December 9, 2023.

About 16% of adults reported receiving an updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine since September 14, 2023. Vaccination coverage was highest among adults 65 and older.

While most people have not heard about the proven protein-based vaccine technology, local pharmacists are well-positioned to communicate to their customers the benefits of the newly authorized vaccine.

During an interview with Robert Walker, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Novavax Inc., offering consumer choice between two COVID-19 platforms was highlighted.

"The most obvious benefit of the protein-based platform is its trusted platform, having been deployed for decades in different vaccines," commented Dr. Walker.

"These vaccines have established a significant track record for safety, which we believe is very important."

"And recently, numerous clinical trials have confirmed high-efficacy, about 90%, in Novavax's vaccines." (Based on earlier trials)

"There is emerging data showing that our vaccine appears to be better tolerated – meaning that the symptoms that keep people home from work or school, or make people feel crummy, are reduced – with the first dose, second dose, and also when given as booster after someone has received an mRNA vaccine before.”

"In the real-world setting of a pharmacy located on main street, vaccine customers now have choices, and we believe Novavax's safe and effective vaccine is an option in late December 2023."

Novavax's updated COVID-19 vaccine is authorized in the U.S., the European Union, and the World Health Organization.

Novavax partnered with Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. to expand its global market reach.

These expanded authorizations are based on non-clinical data showing that Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine induced functional immune responses against XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and XBB.2.3 variants.

Additional non-clinical data demonstrated that Novavax's vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody responses to subvariants BA.2.86, EG.5.1, FL.1.5.1, and XBB.1.16.6 as well as CD4+ polyfunctional cellular (T-cell) responses against EG.5.1 and XBB.1.16.6.

These data indicate that Novavax's vaccine can stimulate both arms of the immune system and may induce a broad response against currently circulating variants.

The Director of the CCDC, Dr. Mandy Cohen, commented yesterday while in Michigan.... winter is the time for respiratory illnesses, and there are ways to prepare.

"We want to make sure that we are using all the tools we know work to protect each other this holiday season," Dr. Cohen said, according to Wdet.org.

"As we get into December and deeper into the winter, we know we're going to see more viruses and bacteria circulating, particularly as we gather for holiday parties or travel for Christmas."

Note: This article was updated on Dec. 12, 2023 for content clarification.