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The UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, has approved Nuvaxovid, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Novavax, making it the fifth vaccine authorised for use in the UK.
The Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid described the announcement as a “testament to the country’s first-rate research and development capabilities for vaccines. With tens of thousands of people taking part in clinical trials here in the UK, contributing to the invaluable research that shows our vaccines are safe and effective.”
He said the next step will not be for the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination (JCVI) to consider its use as part of the UK Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Nuvaxovid provides up to 89% protection from Covid-related illness
In reaching its decision, the MHRA considered the results of two large clinical trials involving nearly 50,000 participants. The results of the trial found that the vaccine was provided up to 89% protection against illness caused by the virus, a similar level to the other approved vaccines.
However, the Nuvaxovid vaccine works in a different way to other vaccines, as Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Chair of the independent Commission on Human Medicine explains: “Nuvaxovid is distinct from other Covid-19 vaccines currently in use in the UK as it uses recombinant protein-based technology which has been used for many years in the development of vaccines to prevent other illnesses, for example Hepatitis B.”
June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive, said the approval follows a “rigorous review of the safety, quality and effectiveness of this vaccine, and expert advice from the government’s independent scientific advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines.”
Millions now being manufactured
While the approval authorises the use of the vaccine in people aged 18 and over for a first and second dose, with most of the UK now double-jabbed, it is expected that the vaccine could be rolled out as part of the booster programme later in the year.
Millions of doses are now currently being manufactured at a plant in Teesside.