The HSE National Immunisation Office has created a Nuvaxovid® (Novavax) summary sheet to support Healthcare Professionals. The Nuvaxovid® (Novavax) vaccine may be given to people aged 18 years and older who have a contraindication to an mRNA vaccine, or who have declined another COVID-19 vaccine.
Download the HSE NIO Nuvaxovid® (Novavax) summary sheet: https://bit.ly/NuvaxovidSumm
Information about the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is called Nuvaxovid. It is not know yet how long immunity will last after getting this vaccine. Clinical trials are happening now to find this out. mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) are the recommended vaccines for your first round of COVID-19 vaccination. However, some people may not be able to get an mRNA vaccine or have chosen not to get one, for example, because of an allergy to one of the vaccine's ingredients. In these cases, you may be offered the Novavax vaccine.
Phone HSELive on 1800 700 700 to arrange getting the Novavax vaccine at a vaccination centre.
Doses needed
The number of doses needed will depend on if you have been vaccinated against COVID-19 yet.
Not vaccinated
If you have never had a COVID-19 vaccine, you will need 2 doses of the Novavax vaccine, 21 days apart.
Not completed your first round of vaccination
This means you only had the first dose of either the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccine.
You can get the Novavax vaccine as your second dose, 28 days after your first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Booster
If you had your first round of vaccination with Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca, you may be offered the Novavax vaccine as a booster dose if you are 18 or older. This may be offered in cases where you cannot get or have chosen not to get an mRNA vaccine as your booster dose.
Read about getting different vaccines
At this time, no booster dose is recommended if you had the Novavax vaccine as your first round of COVID-19 vaccination.
Additional dose
People with a weak immune system are offered an additional dose for better protection. mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) are the recommended vaccines for an additional dose.
In cases where you cannot get or choose not to get an mRNA vaccine, you may be offered the Novavax vaccine as your additional dose if you are 18 or older. This will only be offered if you did not have 2 doses of the Novavax vaccine as your first round of vaccination. At this time, no additional dose is recommended if have a weak immune system and you had the Novavax vaccine as your first round of COVID-19 vaccination.