The first coronavirus protein vaccine, the Novavax vaccine, is coming to Greece. As it became known, the Novavax vaccines will arrive in our country, specifically on Monday, February 21st.
The Gaithersburg, Maryland-based pharmaceuticals firm, which earned emergency au thorization for its vaccine in the EU on December 20, received the go-ahead from UK drug regulatory authorities in the UK today. The President and Chief Executive Officer at Novavax, Stanley C. Erck, welcomed the EU’s decision, thanking the EMA for their thorough assessment.
Novavax approved by UK drug authority today
In a statement, Erck said that he welcomed “the European Commission decision reflecting the first authorization of a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine for the people of the EU… we look forward to playing a critical role in helping to address the continued threat of COVID-19.”
Greek health officials stated that the first batches of Novavax will arrive in Greece on February 21 and inoculations with the vaccine will begin in March. General Secretary of Primary Healthcare Marios Themistokleous said on Tuesday that Greece is expected to receive 474,000 Novavax doses in February and March. The first shipment, comprising 168,000 shots, will be distributed to vaccine centers throughout the country.
Like the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna shots, the Novavax product is also administered as two doses; however, it may appeal to a segment of society that is uncomfortable with mRNA-based vaccines since it is made in the traditional way, with a base made of protein. As of Tuesday, over 7,760,000 Greek people, representing 73.8% of the entire populaiton, had been inoculated with at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Over 45%, or 4,880,000 citizens had gotten their booster shot, and as of earlier this week there were another 200,000 citizens who were awaiting an appointment for a shot.
Different technology from mRNA vaccines
It is noted that the protein-based vaccine of Novavax, which was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) last December, uses a different technology from the mRNA vaccines of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
The Novavax protein-based vaccine will be given in two doses and has been found to be effective against a number of strains of the new coronavirus, according to the Greek Ministry of Health. This will be an alternative for those who do not want a vaccine that uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.