FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS) —
The Air Power will quickly have the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine out there after the U.S Meals and Drug Administration approved it for emergency use and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention endorsed it as one other major sequence choice for adults ages 18 years and older.
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which shall be out there within the coming weeks, is a two-dose vaccine that presents a brand new choice for individuals who have been hesitant to obtain the FDA totally licensed and accepted mRNA vaccines, Pfizer Cominarty and Moderna Spikevax.
One distinction from mRNA vaccines is that Novavax makes use of a standard platform much like different vaccines that Airmen and Guardians might have already acquired.
“Most Airmen and Guardians have already acquired vaccines utilizing comparable know-how because the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, just like the hepatitis B vaccine, which is a Division of Protection requirement. Different vaccines produced with comparable know-how are the human papillomavirus vaccine and even one of many flu vaccines,” mentioned Lt. Col. David Sayers, chief of preventive drugs, Air Power Medical Readiness Company. “The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine makes use of know-how that has been round because the Eighties. Not solely do now we have effectiveness and security knowledge from the Novavax medical trials, however we even have many years of expertise with any such vaccine.”
In medical trials carried out earlier than the emergence of the delta and omicron variants, Novavax was 90.4% efficient in stopping gentle, average or extreme COVID-19 infections. Unvaccinated service members should obtain the 2 doses, the first sequence, taken not less than 21 days aside to be thought-about totally vaccinated and meet the Division of Protection COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
People who’re within the strategy of in search of a non secular lodging exemption can elect to make use of any FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccination below emergency use or totally licensed vaccine, which now consists of Novavax, at any level within the evaluation course of to adjust to this vaccine requirement.
“Novavax might accommodate these with sincerely held beliefs who felt restricted of their choices with the earlier vaccine providing,” mentioned Maj. Gen. Sharon Bannister, medical operations director, Air Power Surgeon Basic.
As COVID-19 instances proceed to rise, Air Power medical leaders are urging all Airmen, Guardians and their households to vaccinate in opposition to COVID-19 and keep up-to-date on their vaccinations. Permitted vaccines have been confirmed to lower the probabilities of extreme COVID-19 and stop hospitalizations and dying. Presently, the US is averaging greater than 120,000 each day reported instances and greater than 350 deaths per day, pushed by the brand new, extra contagious variant known as BA.5.
“Not like the flu, which circulates seasonally, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has circulated repeatedly over the past two and a half years,” mentioned Sayers. “You will need to get vaccinated and keep up-to-date along with your vaccines to restrict extreme illness. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is another choice to make sure we will shield our members and shield the mission.”
Airmen and Guardians can contact their native navy remedy amenities for extra info. Extra info on vaccine appointments and testing will be discovered right here.
