2023 – 2024 COVID-19 Boosters:

New Boosters for New Variants:
Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax reformulated their COVID booster vaccines to all be monovalent (this would not be a change for Novavax) and targeted to combat the newer XBB.1.5 variant and other XBB sub lineages. These vaccines have all received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are available now. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s boosters are mRNA vaccines. Novavax’s booster is a protein subunit vaccine and the only non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine available in the USA.

It’s my belief that Novavax is currently (Oct 16, 2023) the best and safest booster option for most booster eligible people aged 12+ in the USA.  If you’re treating physican recommends an mRNA COVID vaccine  (Pfizer or Moderna) to you and does not mention Novavax as an option, then ask them their opinion of Novavax. Many doctors either don’t know about Novavax or only offer patients the best thing they have right there in their office. Here is a link to better understand the difference between mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) and protein subunit vaccines (Novavax). I’ll be giving a little more details about Novavax here because it is the least known and in my opinion the best of what is available in the USA now. 

Novavax’s new Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula) is a Protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine (technology that’s been used 30+ years before in other vaccines, like flu, hepatitis B, and whooping cough)

Age Group: 12+ years
Required 2+ month interval between primary series & booster doses
Available At These Locations as of 10/13/23
Get the fact sheet here.

How is the Novavax vaccine given?

Individuals previously vaccinated with one or more doses of a monovalent COVID‑19 vaccine or a bivalent COVID‑19 vaccine: A single dose is administered at least 2 months after the last previous dose of any monovalent or bivalent COVID‑19 vaccine.

Individuals not previously vaccinated with any COVID‑19 vaccine: Two doses are administered 3 weeks apart.

Immunocompromised individuals 12 years of age and older: Additional doses of Novavax COVID‑19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted may be administered. For more information, talk to your child’s healthcare provider.

Does the Novavax vaccine offer protection from the current / new variants?
 “The Emergency Use Authorization  was based on non-clinical data showing that Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine induced functional immune responses against XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16 and XBB.2.3 variants. Additional non-clinical data demonstrated that Novavax’s vaccine induced neutralizing antibody responses to newly emerging subvariants BA.2.86, EG.5.1(Eris) FL.1.5.1 and XBB.1.16.6 as well as robust CD4+ polyfunctional cellular (T-cell) responses against EG.5.1 and XBB.1.16.6. These data indicate Novavax’s vaccine can stimulate both arms of the immune system and may induce a broad response against currently circulating variants.“

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN THIS VACCINE?
The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted contains a recombinant form of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein produced from baculovirus infected Sf9 (fall armyworm) insect cells and Matrix- MTM adjuvant containing saponins derived from the soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria Molina).
Other ingredients include cholesterol, phosphatidylcholine, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium chloride, disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, sodium chloride, disodium hydrogen phosphate heptahydrate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate, polysorbate 80.
The vaccine may also contain small amounts of baculovirus and insect cell proteins and DNA.
(Are you wonder why it’s mentioning trees and insect cells in the ingredients? Click here!)

HAS THIS NOVAVAX COVID19 VACCINE BEEN USED BEFORE?
Tens of thousands of people (including Mary and many of her family members, fellow dancers, and friends) 12 years of age and older have received Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (Not this XBB.1.5 version -the original monovalent) under EUA. In clinical trials, approximately 28,500 individuals 12 years of age and older have received at
least one dose of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (Again, not this XBB.1.5 version- the original monovalent).

Approximately 1000 individuals have received at least a single dose of a Novavax monovalent or bivalent vaccine containing different spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 prior to this updated vaccine becoming available to the public. This updated booster being offered now is made in the same way as the earlier Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (Original monovalent that Mary first got), but this new one contains the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant lineage XBB.1.5 so that it better matches the Omicron variants of COVID that are currently circulating. This version just became available at places like Costco, CVS, Giant, Publix, Rite Aid, and Stop & Shop on Oct. 13. 2023.

Pfizer-BioNTech:
“Pre-clinical data show that the updated COVID-19 vaccine generates improved neutralizing antibody responses against multiple circulating Omicron-related sublineages including XBB.1.5, BA.2.86 (Pirola), and EG.5.1 (Eris)”

Age Groups: Pfizer Offers 3 Options for different Age Groups:

• 6 Months to 4 Years
• 5 to 11 Years
• 12+ Years (Brand name Comirnaty®)

Required 2+ Month Interval Between Primary Series & Booster Doses
See the dosing schedules for children here.
See the fact sheet for children here.
Available Now
Get the fact sheet for adults here.

Moderna started calling all of their COVID mRNA vaccines “Spikevax®”. If you are asking if the vaccine you are getting is “Spikevax” or if you refer to it as “Spikevax” or hear someone talk about “Spikevax” keep in mind “Spikevax” is their new brand name and could now be referring to any of Moderna’s COVID vaccines. 

Age Groups: Moderna Offers 2 Options for different Age Groups:

• 6 Months to 11 Years 
• 12+ Years
  

Do

• Relax the muscle that is being injected
• Move! Moving your arm will help disperse the injectate in your muscle and that will help with muscle soreness. Move your arms right after you receive the shot. Practice your arm styling throughout the day that you get vaccinated.
• Stretch your shoulder to help reduce inflammation. Do all those warm up stretches you do in class throughout the day that you get vaccinated.
• Ice. Icing for 20 minutes at a time throughout the day can help reduce swelling and soreness.
• Eat oily foods (especially virgin olive oils) after you get your vaccine.
  
  Don’t
• Don’t lift Weights or Your Dance Partner – Avoid strength training and mark your lifts and tricks for a couple days after any vaccines. Lifting can worsen the arm soreness. Listen to your body on this one,
• Tighten your muscles when you are getting the vaccine
• Drink Alcohol the night before or after your vaccine
• Don’t take pain relievers or medicines, such as ibuprofen, aspirin (only for people ages 18 years or older), or acetaminophen before vaccination to try to prevent side effects. 

Getting an mRNA Vaccine and Flu Shot at the Same Time?

While healthcare professionals are allowed to give you an mRNA vaccine and flu shot at the same time (at least an inch apart) it is safer if you get them at different times. This  July 15, 2022 study  found that people who got an mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine (either Pfizer or Moderna) and a flu vaccine at the same time were 8% to 11% more likely to have reactions including fatigue, headache, and muscle ache than people who only got a COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccine. If you do decide to get two vaccines at the same time, I recommend you get them in separate arms. I believe you should not get Novavax, Pfixer, or Moderna boosters at the same time as the flu shot, etc.