After slips and “false starts”, there is a date for the arrival of the anti Covid Novavax protein vaccine. The first delivery will concern approximately 1 million doses, which will be distributed to the Regions / Autonomous Provinces on Sunday 27 February. Other supplies of around 2 million doses are expected in March. This is what the structure of Commissioner Francesco Figliuolo clarified. From Wednesday 23 February in Walk and in Piedmont it is possible to adhere to the vaccination with the Novavax. In particular in Piedmont (where the expected doses for the first supply are 72,700) there are already about a thousand bookings. From Friday 25 February reservations will open in Lazio: the operation can be carried out from the regional portal for the first and second dose of the Novavax vaccine with 5 thousand slots available per day.
The vaccine that no vax “like”
Novavax is the vaccine that No Vax might “like”, as it uses the recombinant protein technique, in use for some time against diseases such as pertussis, hepatitis, meningitis, herpes zoster and other viral infections (different from the Rna technology used from Pfizer and Moderna). Its use was approved in the session of the AIFA Technical Advisory Commission last December 22 for all those aged 18 and over (for the administration of the first doses and therefore not for the recalls). It has the advantage that it can be stored in normal refrigerators.
Novavax only for those over 18, two doses 21 days apart
In particular, the vaccine can be administered to individuals aged 18 or over. Nuvaxovid (Novavax) is included in the SarsCoV2 / Covid-19 vaccination program currently only for the primary cycle (first and second dose, ed), together with the vaccines already authorized for use in the European Union. And it is administered intramuscularly (preferably in the deltoid region of the arm) as a course of 2 doses (0.5 mL each) 3 weeks (21 days) apart. This is evidenced by the circular of the Ministry of Health “Indication of use of the vaccine against COVID-19 Nuvaxovid (Novavax) in subjects aged 18 and over”, signed by the Director of Prevention of the ministry Gianni Rezza
Only for primary cycle (no third dose)
On 22/12/2021, it is emphasized in the circular of the ministry, the Technical Scientific Commission of AIFA, accepting the opinion expressed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), approved the indication of use of the Nuvaxovid (Novavax) vaccine, in the specific formulation for injection of 0.5 mL / dose, starting from 18 years of age. Each Nuvaxovid multidose vial is 10 doses of 0.5 mL, requires no dilution and is therefore ready to use. The closed vial, stored in the refrigerator at a temperature between 2 ° C and 8 ° C, is valid for 9 months. The closed vial, at room temperature up to 25 ° C, is usable within 12 hours. After the first perforation, the vial can be stored at 2 ° C to 25 ° C and is usable within 6 hours.
The effectiveness of the vaccine
The available data, Aifa highlighted at the time of the green light for Novavax, showed an efficacy of about 90% in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 disease even in the population over the age of 64. The safety profile was positive, with mainly local adverse reactions.