The Novavax vaccine is finally available in Italy too. More than a year after the arrival of the first anti-Covid vaccines, many have given in, overcoming fears and resistance, but the Novavax effect has been below expectations. Even if with numbers that are not booming, the vaccine “Nuvaxovid“, developed by the American biotechnology company Novavax, has been distributed throughout the country. Lombardy leads the way, followed by Sicily, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, and then by Calabria, Lazio, Liguria, Valle D'Aosta, Umbria, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Tuscany and Campania.
While the curve of the new infections from Covid in Italy it confirms the downward trend, the fifth vaccine arrives in our country but the first to use a protein-based technology, without the messenger RNA at the base of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Although the first encouraging signs, with an increase in bookings after weeks of decline, there are still too few who decide to get vaccinated compared to the supply already delivered to the Regions and to the unvaccinated pool. But for the experts it will be necessary to wait for the next few days to understand the Novavax effect on this audience, especially for the over 1,2 million over 50s who have thevaccination requirement.
Meanwhile, on the first day of administration of the new drug - Monday 28 February - the doses inoculated throughout the Lombardy region until late afternoon were 276, of which 189 for over 50s.
What is Novavax? And what differentiates it from mRna vaccines?
Nuvaxovid is protein-based, meaning it contains a fragment of the Spike protein of the Covid-19. This means that to provoke an immune response, it supplies cells with proteins and adjuvants, rather than a fragment of genetic code like Pfizer and Moderna.
This preparation therefore exploits the recombinant protein technique, already known and widely used for many years to produce various vaccines such as those against hepatitis B, meningitis, pertussis, HPV and other viral infections. For this reason it is thought that it can convince even the most "obstinate".
The new tool to combat the spread of Covid-19 can be used on all subjects, starting from 18 years of age, as long as they have not yet been vaccinated. In fact, this serum cannot be used to complete a cycle started with an mRNA vaccine, nor as a booster. For the moment, the vaccine provides for the administration of two doses to be inoculated 21 days apart.
Novavax vaccine efficacy over 82,5% at 6 months
According to a phase 3 study conducted in the United Kingdom, Novavax's anti-Covid vaccine maintained "a high level of efficacy over a 6-month surveillance period". The American company communicates this, underlining in particular that the analysis revealed "an efficacy of the vaccine of 82,5% in protecting against all Covid-19 infections, both symptomatic and asymptomatic". The safety profile was confirmed as "reassuring".
However, it has not yet been tested against either the Delta or Omicron variant.
The Novavax effect for Ricciardi: "it won't convince the diehards"
“I believe that the diehards” no vax “will not get vaccinated anyway”, not even now that the Novavax anti-Covid vaccine, based on a more traditional technology, is available in Italy. And they will not get vaccinated “because Omicron is so contagious and sooner or later it will affect them. We must hope that this does not translate into too much pressure on health services". Thus Walter Ricciardi, consultant to the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza.
