February 3, 2022

expert reaction to MHRA approval of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid for first and second doses in over 18s

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), have announced approval of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid for first and second doses in over 18s.

This Roundup accompanied an SMC Briefing.

Dr Clive Dix, former Chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, said:

“This is excellent news as the clinical data on this vaccine is excellent and the strong cellular response should make this an excellent vaccine for boosting next winter.  Not only do we expect a strong durable response but also good stability at fridge temperature so it can be rolled out with the flu vaccine next winter as part of the winter campaign.  This should replace the need to buy more Pfizer and Moderna vaccine and save the UK government a considerable amount of money.”

A FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies spokesperson said:

“Everyone at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is delighted that the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the Novavax vaccine.

“We are all immensely proud to be part of this endeavour, and across our network we continue to work hard to support Novavax to advance the manufacturing and supply of Nuvaxovid for patients.”

Dr Peter English, Retired Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, Former Editor of Vaccines in Practice, past Chair of the BMA Public Health Medicine Committee, said:

“This announcement has long been expected – I’m not sure why it took so long, as the vaccine has been being used in other countries, so we have known for some time that it is safe and effective.

“The more alternative vaccines there are, the better, both for resilience reasons (e.g. if a problem arises with the manufacture of one or more brands), and because it allows us to see which vaccines, or combinations, are most effective in the short and long terms.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/novavax-covid-19-vaccine-nuvaxovid-approved-by-mhra

All our previous output on this subject can be seen at this weblink:

www.sciencemediacentre.org/tag/covid-19

Declared interests

Dr Clive Dix: “No declarations.”

A FUJIFILM Diosynth: “FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, is a global CDMO in pharmaceutical manufacturing providing process development and cGMP production in cell culture, microbial fermentation and gene therapies. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is contracted by Novavax to manufacture the antigen component of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine at sites in the United Kingdom and the United States.”

Dr Peter English: “Dr English is on the editorial board of Vaccines Today: an unpaid, voluntary, position.  While he is also a member of the BMA’s Public Health Medicine Committee (and its chair until Oct 2020), this comment is made in a personal capacity.  Dr English sometimes receives honoraria for acting as a consultant to various vaccine manufacturers, most recently to Seqirus.”