Nuvaxovid
Nuvaxovid (Novavax COVID-19 vaccine) is a recombinant vaccine that's used to prevent infection from the virus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and is available in the U.S. Nuvaxovid has Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for people aged 12 years and older. This vaccine is given as an injection in the muscle by a healthcare provider. You can get an updated booster shot after you've been fully vaccinated against the virus. Common side effects include tiredness, headache, and pain and tenderness at the injection site.
What is Nuvaxovid?
What is Nuvaxovid used for?
- Prevention of COVID-19 infection in people aged 12 years and older
How Nuvaxovid works
Nuvaxovid is a recombinant vaccine. It contains a modified, harmless version of the "spike protein" found on the COVID-19 virus. When it's injected into your body, your immune system knows that this spike protein doesn't belong in your body, so it makes antibodies against it. The antibodies tell other immune cells in your body to get rid of the spike protein. This teaches your body how to recognize the COVID-19 virus. So when you get infected with the COVID-19 virus, your immune system is ready to fight and protect you from infection.
Drug facts
Side effects of Nuvaxovid
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Pain or tenderness at injection site (up to 69%)
- Tiredness or feeling unwell (up to 45%)
- Headache (up to 38%)
- Muscle pain (up to 25%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Joint pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever
- Redness or swelling at injection site
Nuvaxovid serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Heart inflammation (swelling): chest pain, shortness of breath, a racing heart
- Serious allergic reactions: trouble breathing; rash; hives; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
More on Nuvaxovid side effects
The following Nuvaxovid side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Heart muscle inflammation—unusual weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Nuvaxovid
Pros
- A traditional type of vaccine (protein-based)
- Recommended by the CDC to prevent COVID-19 infection
- An option if you can't or prefer not to get the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) or Moderna (Spikevax) COVID-19 vaccine
Cons
- Requires two injections to be fully vaccinated
- Not authorized for use for people under 12 years old
Pharmacist tips for Nuvaxovid
- Nuvaxovid is injected into your muscle by a healthcare provider at an office, clinic, or pharmacy.
- Make sure to sit down while you're getting your vaccine and while your healthcare provider is monitoring you afterwards. This helps prevent any injuries if you faint after getting your vaccine.
- Most side effects are generally mild and a normal sign that your immune system is building protection against the COVID-19 virus. They typically last a couple days and go away on their own. Contact your healthcare provider if any side effects get worse after 24 hours or if they don't go away after a few days.
- Nuvaxovid can cause discomfort, pain, or swelling where you got the shot. To help with these side effects, you can hold a cool, wet washcloth over the area where you got the injection. Moving your arm around can also help.
- Nuvaxovid can also cause headaches, tiredness, fever, and muscle aches. Try to take it easy and get some rest. Drink plenty of fluids and dress in light clothing to avoid overheating if you develop a fever.
- Don't take any over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or diphenhydramine (Benadryl), before you get Nuvaxovid to try to prevent side effects. It isn't known whether they can affect how well the vaccine works. If needed, talk to your healthcare provider if it's safe for you to take these OTC medications after getting the vaccine to help relieve any side effects you have.
Common questions about Nuvaxovid
Nuvaxovid should be available at certain provider's offices and pharmacies. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about whether they offer the Novavax vaccine or where you can find the vaccine and schedule an appointment.
No, Nuvaxovid isn't a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. Instead, the Novavax vaccine is a type of vaccine called a recombinant vaccine and is protein-based. It contains a modified, harmless version of a part of the COVID-19 virus called a spike protein. mRNA vaccines — like Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) and Spikevax (Moderna) COVID vaccines — contain genetic material (mRNA) made in the lab that teaches your body to make a specific protein (in this case, the spike protein). The two types of vaccines use different technology. But the overall goal is the same: to help protect you from COVID-19 infection by getting your immune system to make antibodies against this protein and fight against the virus.
If you haven't gotten any COVID-19 vaccines before, you should get fully vaccinated against the virus with the same manufacturer of the COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax). Getting fully vaccinated will take 1 to 3 injections (doses), depending on the manufacturer and your age. Once you're fully vaccinated, you can get any of the three COVID-19 vaccines available as your booster or additional dose; this is called "mixing and matching." To make sure you're up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, ask your provider or pharmacist about whether you need to get another COVID-19 vaccine dose and when you should get it or check out the CDC-recommended dosing schedule.
Yes, Nuvaxovid has an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for its use as a booster for COVID-19. As the name suggests, a booster shot "boosts" or wakes up your immune system to make protection against the virus stronger. It's important to get a booster shot for COVID-19 because protection against the virus can lessen over time.
Nuvaxovid isn't FDA approved yet. But it received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for its use to protect against COVID-19 infection. The EUA allows unapproved vaccines like Novavax to be used during a public health emergency. Rest assured, the FDA reviews data from ongoing or final clinical studies to make sure that the Novavax vaccine works well enough and is safe enough to use.
Studies show that all the currently available COVID-19 vaccines (including the Nuvaxovid) can protect against severe illness and death from COVID-19. But the COVID-19 vaccines might not offer the same level of protection against all variants of the virus. As new variants and subvariants appear, more research will be done to understand how effective the Nuvaxovid will be against them. The manufacturer (Novavax) might slightly change and update the vaccine to help better target and provide protection against the specific variants or subvariants that cause most of the COVID-19 infections in the U.S. as time goes on. Talk to your healthcare provider or visit the CDC's COVID data tracker for the latest on how effective the COVID-19 vaccines are.
The CDC and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that you should get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and stay up to date with booster shots if you're pregnant. You're at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 if you get infected while you're pregnant. Recombinant vaccines are generally considered safe in pregnancy. But more studies need to be done to know for sure whether Nuvaxovid is safe for you and your unborn baby. There's an ongoing pregnancy registry that keeps track of the health of mothers who got the Novavax vaccine during pregnancy and the health of their babies. The manufacturer (Novavax) encourages people who got its COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy to enroll in this registry by visiting the COVID-19 Vaccines International Pregnancy Exposure Registry website. Discuss with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
The CDC and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that you should get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and stay up to date with booster shots if you're breastfeeding. More studies need to be done so we can better understand the effects of Nuvaxovid on your milk supply and baby. But the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that because it isn't a live vaccine, it's unlikely that the Novavax vaccine will harm your breastfed infant. Discuss with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
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Risks and warnings for Nuvaxovid
Nuvaxovid can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Allergic reaction
Allergic reactions to Nuvaxovid are possible. Serious allergic reactions can include hives; shortness of breath; swelling of the face, lips, or tongue; and other symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction. Get medical help or call 911 right away if you experience an allergic reaction during or after you get vaccinated with the Novavax vaccine.
Heart inflammation (swelling)
Although rare, Nuvaxovid can raise the risk of heart inflammation, such as myocarditis (swelling of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (swelling of the tissue lining the outside of the heart). In clinical studies, this happened in two males at least a week after getting a dose of the original version of the Novavax vaccine. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or a racing heart, as these can be signs of heart inflammation.
Fainting
Some people have fainted shortly after getting vaccines that are injected into the muscle. Let your healthcare provider know if you have a history of fainting after vaccinations. Your provider can keep a close eye on you for about 15 minutes after you get Nuvaxovid. To prevent injuries from fainting, it's best to sit down while you're getting your vaccine and while your provider is monitoring you.
Lowered response in people with a weakened immune system
- Risk factors: Conditions that lower the immune system | Taking medications that lower the immune system
People with a weakened immune system might have a lowered response to Nuvaxovid. This includes people with certain conditions that weaken the immune system or those who are taking medications that can lower the immune system (e.g., organ transplant, cancer medications, long-term corticosteroid use). Make sure to continue to take the necessary precautions to prevent COVID-19 infection if you have a weak immune system. Let your provider know about your medical history and medication list. Your provider might recommend that you get additional doses of Nuvaxovid if you have a weak immune system.
Nuvaxovid dosage
Syringe| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5ml/dose | 1 syringe | $172.66 | $172.66 |
Typical dosage for Nuvaxovid
Nuvaxovid is injected into the muscle by a healthcare provider. Each injection is 0.5 mL of medication.
Discuss with your healthcare provider about whether Nuvaxovid is appropriate for you and when to get your dose(s).
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Primary series (for people who haven't been previously vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine): The typical dose is 1 injection into the muscle. This is followed by a second injection 3 weeks later.
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Booster dose (for people who've been previously vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine): The typical dose is 1 injection into the muscle at least 2 months after your most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose.
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Additional doses for certain people with a weakened immune system: You can get an additional dose (1 injection) of the Novavax vaccine if it's been at least 2 months after your most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose. Ask your healthcare provider if and when you need an additional dose of the Novavax vaccine.
Note: The CDC recommendations about the timing of each Novavax vaccine dose might be different. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about when to get the Novavax vaccine.
How much does Nuvaxovid cost?
$172.66
Nuvaxovid contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Nuvaxovid will not be safe for you to take.
- Previous allergic reaction to Nuvaxovid
