The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has signed off on the use of COVID-19 vaccine by Novavax Inc. for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. The recommendation also follows the authorization of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the COVID-19 vaccine for the age group.
The Novavax vaccine has received emergency use authorization for July 2022 for use among adults in the United States, with health officials hoping that it will drive the uptake among those sceptical of messenger RNA shots developed by Pfizer and Moderna.
However, Novavax has halved its full-year revenue forecast, and Novavax said it does not expect future sales of its COVID-19 vaccine shot in the United States in 2022. The company also said, it was late to the United States market, and also pointed to easing demand in the face of a global vaccine supply problem.
According to the latest government data, 11,990 Novavax Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the United States so far. The vaccine, which has already been cleared in countries like Australia and Japan for use among adolescents, has also been plagued by regulatory delays, manufacturing snags, and sluggish uptake in some important markets like Europe.
