Novavax COVID-19 vaccine approved for over-18s in UK

The Novavax Covid vaccine has been approved in the UK after meeting the required safety, quality and effectiveness standards.

The Nuvaxovid jab, developed by the US Novavax firm, has today been given regulatory approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Nuvaxovid becomes the fifth COVID-19 vaccine authorised by the UK’s independent medicines regulator.

Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid said: “It is great to see our world renowned medicines regulator approve another COVID-19 vaccine.

“I want the UK to be the best place in the world to conduct clinical trials. It’s 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.

“The next step will be for the independent Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination to consider its use as part of the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme.”

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Chair of the independent Commission on Human Medicines, said: “The independent Commission on Human Medicines and its COVID-19 Expert Working Group has carefully considered the available evidence on safety, quality and effectiveness. We are pleased to say that we have advised that the benefit risk balance of Nuvaxovid is positive.

“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. In reaching its decision, the MHRA considered the results of 2 large clinical trials involving nearly 50,000 participants.”