Updated COVID Vaccine from Novavax

Novavax announced today, Tuesday, that it has received emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization for an updated vaccine for active protection against COVID-19 for individuals aged 12 years and older. The single-target vaccine specifically targets the "XBB.1.5 Omicron" variant of the coronavirus, which has been predominant in the United States for most of this year before other variants emerged as the virus evolved. Novavax has missed out on significant gains from its COVID-19 vaccine compared to competitors due to manufacturing issues that delayed its application for approval during the peak of the pandemic. The updated COVID vaccine developed by the Maryland-based biotechnology company received licensing in the United States in October. It employs a traditional protein-based technology rather than messenger RNA like its competitors Pfizer and Moderna.