COVID-19 vaccine: protein-based Nuvaxovid available.
Bern, 13.04.2022 - Following Swissmedic’s authorisation of the Nuvaxovid® / NVX-CoV2373 vaccine from Novavax, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the Federal Vaccination Commission (EKIF) have published the corresponding vaccination recommendation. The vaccine will be delivered to Switzerland in the second quarter of 2022 and distributed immediately to the cantons. The protein-based Novavax vaccine is primarily going to be used for people who for medical reasons cannot be given an mRNA vaccine. However, it is also available to other people wishing to be vaccinated.
The vaccine manufactured by Novavax is the fourth vaccine to be used in Switzerland. Nuvaxovid is a protein-based vaccine to which a so-called adjuvant is added to enhance its efficacy. It extends the range of available COVID-19 vaccines. 102,000 vaccine doses are expected to arrive in Switzerland in the second quarter of 2022 for subsequent delivery to the cantons by the Armed Forces Pharmacy. The cantons are responsible for the arrangements for administering the vaccine.
Vaccination recommendation for people aged 18 and over
People aged five and over are still primarily recommended to be vaccinated primarily with an mRNA vaccine, as this provides very high protection and is very safe. The Federal Vaccination Commission (EKIF) and the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) recommend the Nuvaxovid® / NVX-CoV2373 vaccine from Novavax for people aged 18 and over who cannot receive an mRNA vaccine for medical reasons or who refuse mRNA vaccines. The recommendation does not extend to pregnant women and immunodeficient people, who are still only recommended one of the two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna.The Novavax vaccine is administered in two doses at an interval of at least three weeks and provides good protection from COVID-19 disease, including severe course of disease in the event of infection with original variants. Evidence on efficacy and duration of protection from infection with the Delta and Omicron variants is currently only available to a limited extent.
Both EKIF and FOPH will adjust the recommendation for a booster vaccination outside the authorisation once relevant current data are available.
Address for enquiries
Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Communications, media@bag.admin.ch
Coronavirus infoline +41 58 463 00 00 (weekdays from 8am to 6pm)
Publisher
Federal Office of Public Health
http://www.bag.admin.ch