Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine To Become Available In Encinitas

ENCINITAS, CA — As the latest COVID-19 surge continues to drive cases up in California, Encinitas residents will soon be able to get the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, the county Health and Human Services Agency announced Friday.

Novavax, which is being used all over the world, will be available to San Diego County residents at local healthcare providers, retail pharmacies, community clinics and county public health centers and community vaccination events as soon as this weekend.

Using a protein-based technology, the two-dose vaccine has been used by the U.S. Drug Administration for decades to treat illnesses such as hepatitis B, shingles and human papillomavirus. It works by presenting a specific portion of a virus, allowing the body to generate immunity against it.

The shots are given three to eight weeks apart to those 18 and older. The vaccine is 90 percent effective at preventing mild, moderate and severe COVID-19, according to clinical trials.

"This is yet another vaccine we have to slow the spread of COVID-19, especially now that we’re seeing an increase in cases and hospitalizations," Cameron Kaiser, San Diego County deputy public health officer said in a statement. "San Diegans now have another safe choice to prevent serious complications from COVID."

Novavax was not found to cause any severe side effects, according to clinical trials. Most reactions were reportedly mild or smilier to effects seen from COVID-19 vaccines using mRNA technology such as pain, tenderness, redness and swelling where the shot was given.

Anyone six months and older is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.

The news comes a week after the vaccine was authorized for use by federal officials and by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

"Californians can rest assured that Novavax meets the FDA's rigorous standards of safety and efficacy that are required when receiving emergency use authorization," California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly and Director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, said in a joint statement.

“If you have been waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine built on a different technology than those previously available, now is the time to join the millions of Americans who have been vaccinated,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC's director, said in a statement, endorsing an earlier decision from an influential advisory panel.

Most Americans have gotten at least their primary COVID-19 vaccinations by now, but CDC officials said between 26 million and 37 million adults haven’t had a single dose — the population that Novavax, for now, will be targeting.

“We really need to focus on that population,” said CDC adviser Dr. Oliver Brooks, past president of the National Medical Association. Hopefully, the vaccine "will change them over from being unvaccinated to vaccinated.”

While it’s unclear how many will be persuaded by a more conventional option, “I'm really positive about this vaccine,” agreed fellow adviser Dr. Pablo Sanchez of Ohio State University.

The number of people hospitalized with a coronavirus infection in San Diego County increased by 13 to 450, but even that number has dropped by 15 since last week, according to the data released by the state Thursday.

As recently as Monday, 465 people in the county were hospitalized with COVID-19 — the most since late February.

ICU patients with COVID as of Thursday decreased by one to 47. There were three fewer hospital beds available Thursday, totaling 221.

The county Health and Human Services Agency reported 1,678 new infections and 10 deaths Thursday, increasing the county's cumulative totals to 881,729 cases and 5,409 deaths.

San Diego County's case rate per 100,000 residents 12 years of age and older is 54.35 for people fully vaccinated and boosted, 32.53 for fully vaccinated people and 93.86 for not fully vaccinated San Diegans.

According to the county's Health and Human Services Agency, lab- confirmed coronavirus cases remain near 10,000 per week, a number that does not include at-home tests. The HHSA also reported that it has also seen an increase in re-infections — San Diegans who have tested positive for COVID-19 several times throughout the pandemic. Prior infection does not necessarily prevent re- infection with some of the newer virus variants, according to national data.

More than 3 million or 89.9 percent of San Diegans age 6 months and older are at least partially vaccinated. More than 2.65 million or 79.3 percent are fully vaccinated. A total of 1,416,251 or 58% of 2,430,747 eligible San Diegans have received a booster.

City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.