VACCINE TEAM Q&A: When will more COVID vaccine brands be available?

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -With Johnson and Johnson vaccinations now on pause in the U.S., when could we see more vaccine options available? It’s a question received by the NBC15 Vaccine Team.

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

The Maryland based biotech company Novavax is still conducting clinical trials in the U.S. and Mexico. The company has not applied for emergency use authorization in the U.S. as of yet. It is still collecting data.

Data from trials in the U.K. found the Novavax vaccine to be 96% effective against the original strain of the virus and 86% effective against the B.1.1.7 variant.

Dr. Matt Anderson with UW-Health says once the company submits its vaccine for approval, the process should take 3-4 weeks for a decision. Novavax hopes to gain approval in the U.S. sometime this spring.

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