COVID-19 vaccine developer Novavax has started a new trial for a vaccine that would combine the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine, Reuters reports.
- The trial will include 640 healthy adults from 50 to 70 years old who either were infected with COVID-19 or received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Reuters.
Participants will receive a combination of the NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 vaccine and the NanoFlu influenza shot.
- “Combination of these two vaccines ... may lead to greater efficiencies for the healthcare system and achieve high levels of protection against COVID-19 and influenza with a single regimen,” Gregory Glenn, president of Research and Development at Novavax, said in a statement, according to Reuters.
What is the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine?
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine has been in development for more than a year. It’s been unclear when the vaccine would be available for use. In June, Novavax said it would submit its COVID-19 vaccine for approval to the Food and Drug Administration in the third quarter of 2021, suggesting it could be available for purchase in the fall.
Experts previously told Politico that the Novavax vaccine will be a popular option in the U.S.
- “I do think it’s going to play a larger role,” said Lawrence Gostin, a global health law professor at Georgetown University, according to Politico. “In the short to medium term, at least, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has taken a reputational hit and people are more hesitant to take it. In addition, J&J has had major production problems at its Baltimore plant. And as a result I think Novavax is going to be a reasonably significant player.”
Is Novavax effective?
The company also said its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine is about 90.4% effective, according to data from three clinical trials that included 30,000 participants, according to CNBC.
- Novavax said its vaccine was 100% effective in stopping moderate and severe COVID-19.