Administration purchases Novavax COVID-19 vaccine doses

The departments of Health and Human Services and Defense have secured 3.2 million doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to give to states, federal pharmacy partners and federally qualified health centers if the Food and Drug Administration authorizes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends emergency use of the vaccine, the Administration announced today. An FDA advisory committee last month recommended the agency authorize emergency use of the vaccine for adults. HHS said the company expects to complete quality testing for the vaccine in the next few weeks, which would support final release of the product. The protein-based vaccine would offer an option to individuals who may have an allergic reaction to or prefer not to receive an mRNA vaccine.

“We remain committed to working to ensure that anyone eligible who wants a vaccine can get one,” said Jason Roos, chief operating officer for the HHS Coordination Operations and Response Element. “While more than two-thirds of the American public are already fully vaccinated, we must maintain a sense of urgency to ensure all eligible individuals get vaccinated, particularly heading into the Fall. This latest vaccine would offer people another choice to help protect themselves from severe disease or hospitalization caused by COVID-19.”