Archived 33: Summary of NACI statement of February 17, 2022: Recommendations on the use of Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine

Notice to reader

Published: February 17, 2022

On this page

Overview

For the full statement, please see NACI Statement: Recommendations on the use of the Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information on NACI’s recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines, please refer to the COVID-19 vaccine chapter in the Canadian Immunization Guide (CIG), as well as additional statements on the NACI website.

What you need to know

For the full statement, please see NACI Statement: Recommendations on the use of the Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information on NACI’s recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines, please refer to the COVID-19 vaccine chapter in the Canadian Immunization Guide (CIG), as well as additional statements on the NACI website.

Quotes

“NACI is pleased to see another vaccine product added to Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine portfolio. NACI continues to preferentially recommend mRNA COVID-19 vaccines due to their well-known safety profiles and the excellent protection they provide. However, the Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine is now an option for people who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 and cannot, or do not want to, receive an mRNA vaccine. The Committee will continue to monitor the evidence on this vaccine as it emerges, including data on the use of the vaccine after the clinical trials and the protection the vaccine offers against the Omicron variant, and will update guidance as needed.”

Dr. Robyn Harrison, NACI Vice-chair

“Receiving a primary COVID-19 vaccine series is important to protect yourself against severe illness and complications from COVID-19 infection. The Novavax Nuvaxovid vaccine is the first recombinant protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine to be authorised for use in adults in Canada. Recombinant protein subunit vaccine technology, used for the prevention of other vaccine preventable diseases in Canada, offers a COVID-19 vaccine option for those who have been unable to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine due to contraindications or who have not wanted to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. While clinical trials showed the vaccine provides very good protection against COVID-19, the duration of protection is not yet known and there is currently no data on the efficacy or effectiveness of the vaccine against the Delta or Omicron variants, which emerged following the clinical trials. As with all vaccines, PHAC, Health Canada and NACI will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine and will update guidance as necessary to provide Canadians with the most up to date information and advice.”

Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer

Page details

Date modified: