I hope everybody reading had a great Christmas.
I want to talk again about Novavax, the “tradition vaccine” for COVID whose release finally seems imminent. Back in August, I made a video about this vaccine, how it works, and the strong evidence of its efficacy in clinical studies. Additional advantages included fewer reported side effects and not having to store at extremely cold temperatures. You can view that video here.
Novavax is not an mRNA vaccine unlike most of the others in use across the western world (rather than use mRNA to instruct the body genetically to make the viral spike protein, Novavax uses the actual spike protein combined with an adjuvant, to elicit an immune response and make antibodies). In this way, Novavax is more of a “traditional vaccine”, and is a similar type of technology that is used for Hepatitis B and Pertussis vaccines.
Despite so much promise for most of the year, it has yet to be rolled out widely and has faced repeated manufacturing issues. We’ve had some recent developments though that indicate it’s about to become more well known around the world:
- In November, Indonesia became the first country to authorize Novavax. Population: 275 million, 4th most populated country in the world
- Within the last week, WHO issued an emergency use authorization, making it the 9th vaccine to be approved. The vaccine named Covovax, was produced in India under license from Novavax
- Within the last week, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended granting a conditional market authorization for Novavax, known as “Nuvaxoid”. Expected delivery first quarter of 2022
Early data also suggests an immune response against Omicron, which is even more encouraging. In the USA, an FDA submission “looms” per the latest news.
I was flicking through cable TV recently and stumbled upon a financial channel. There was a segment on “vaccine market share”. Let’s be realistic here, vaccines are currently generating billions of dollars for companies who are selling them to governments all over the world. Understanding how things work in the United States especially, I would not be the least bit surprised if there was some behind the scenes lobbying going on. None of the current vaccine manufacturers, awash with cash from vaccines, will want to give up any market share. That’s the reality of big business. But if living in a capitalist society allows any company to make a lot of money, it must allow competition and a fair playing field.
It will be nothing but good for any country to have as many vaccine options as possible. Nothing less is acceptable. We await Novavax’s release in the USA.
Suneel Dhand is a physician, writer, and YouTuber. He is Founder at MedStoic Lifestyle Medicine and DocsDox . Follow him on YouTube and Facebook.
Turned on bus channel, “vax markets” — would not surprise me in least if behind scenes lobbying going on in US, not in best interests of “vax market share”
If capitalism allows Big Pharma to make billions, then must allow competition
No doubt current big companies will not want to give up “market share”
Disgrace if that plays into it—we DESERVE vax options