ENCINITAS, CA – As the latest COVID-19 outbreak continues to increase cases in California, Encinitas residents will soon be able to receive the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, the county’s Health and Human Services agency announced Friday.
Novavax, which is used around the world, will be available to San Diego County residents at local health care 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 US Drug Administration’s two-dose vaccine has been used for decades to treat diseases such as hepatitis B, shingles and human papillomavirus. It works by presenting a specific part of a virus, which allows the body to generate immunity against it.
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The shots are given three to eight weeks apart for those 18 and older. The vaccine is 90 percent effective in preventing mild, moderate and severe COVID-19, according to clinical trials.
“This is yet another vaccine we need to slow the spread of COVID-19, especially now that we’re seeing an increase in cases and hospitalizations,” Cameron Kaiser, San Diego County’s deputy public health officer, said in a statement. “San Diegans now have another safe choice to avoid serious complications from COVID.”
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Novavax has not been found to cause any serious side effects, according to clinical trials. Most reactions were mild or milder to effects seen by COVID-19 vaccines with mRNA technology such as pain, tenderness, redness and swelling where the shot was made.
Anyone six months and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.
The news comes a week after the vaccine was authorized for use by federal officials and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.
“Californians can be sure that Novavax meets the FDA’s strict standards of safety and efficacy that are necessary 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’ve been waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine built on a different technology than what was previously available, now is the time to join the millions of Americans who have been vaccinated,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, in a statement, supporting an earlier decision by an influential advisory panel.
Most Americans have received at least their primary COVID-19 vaccines by now, but CDC officials said between 26 million and 37 million adults have not received a single dose — the population Novavax is currently targeting.
“We really need to focus on this population,” said CDC consultant Dr. Oliver Brooks, former president of the National Medical Association. Hopefully the vaccine will “change them from unvaccinated to vaccinated.”
Although it is not clear how many will be convinced of a more conventional option, “I am really positive about this vaccine,” said fellow consultant Dr. Pablo Sanchez of Ohio State University agreed.
The number of people hospitalized with a coronavirus infection in San Diego County increased by 13 to 450, but this number also decreased by 15 since last week, according to data from 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 1 to 47. There were three fewer hospital beds available Thursday, for a total of 221.
The county’s Health and Human Services agency reported 1,678 new infections and 10 deaths Thursday, raising the county’s cumulative total to 881,729 cases and 5,409 deaths.
San Diego County’s case rate per 100,000 residents 12 years and older is 54.35 for fully vaccinated and boosted people, 32.53 for fully vaccinated people and 93.86 for non-fully vaccinated San Diegans.
According to the county’s Health and Human Services agency, lab-confirmed coronavirus cases remain at 10,000 per week, a number that does not include home testing. The HHSA also reported that it has also seen an increase in reinfections — San Diegans who have tested positive for COVID-19 multiple times throughout the pandemic. Previous infection does not necessarily prevent re-infection with some of the new 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 received a booster.
City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
The rules of replying:
What are the effects of the COVID-19 spike protein on the immune system?
When SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, enters the body, its spike protein binds to the ACE2 receptor, gaining entry into the cell. The immune system responds by producing protective antibodies that bind to the invading virus, blocking or neutralizing its effects.
Who is at higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19? Older people, and those with underlying medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer are more likely to develop a serious illness.
What are the common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines?
The most commonly reported events with COVID-19 vaccines are expected vaccine side effects, such as headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, fever, and chills and pain at the injection site. The occurrence of these adverse events is consistent with what is already known about the vaccines from clinical trials.
Are long-term side effects possible with the COVID-19 vaccine?
The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks Serious side effects that can cause a long-term health problem are extremely uncommon after any vaccine, including the COVID-19 vaccine.
What are the common side effects of COVID-19 vaccine?
Common symptoms include local pain, redness, swelling, systemic fatigue, headache, muscle aches, fever and nausea. Regulatory authorities suggest facial paralysis and swelling as possible orofacial adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, which are believed to occur rarely [6].
Are smokers more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19?
Tobacco smoking is a known risk factor for many respiratory infections and increases the severity of respiratory diseases. A review of studies by public health experts convened by the WHO on April 29, 2020 found that smokers are more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19, compared to non-smokers.
Are smokers more likely to contract COVID-19?
Smoking cigarettes can leave smokers more vulnerable to respiratory diseases like COVID-19, so there’s never been a better time to quit smoking. The FDA’s Every Try Counts campaign has supportive tips and tools to help smokers get closer to quitting.
How can smokers reduce the risk of a severe case of COVID-19?
Quit smoking and vape if you can.
Is COVID-19 vaccination still necessary, even after getting infected with the virus and recovering?
Evidence is growing that vaccination after infection strengthens protection and further reduces the risk of re-infection. Therefore, COVID-19 vaccination is generally recommended for the eligible population, including those who have recovered from the disease.
Is it recommended to get the COVID-19 vaccine for previously infected individuals?
Although both prior infection and vaccination were found to significantly protect against COVID-19 infection, vaccination in previously infected individuals provided additional protection against symptomatic COVID-19 only among those who received the vaccine several months after the initial onset of illness received
How long after being infected with COVID-19 may you be protected from reinfection?
In May, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said data shows that most people infected with COVID are protected from the virus for about one to three months afterward.
What is a protein subunit vaccine?
Protein subunit vaccines contain harmless and purified pieces (proteins) of the virus that have been specially selected for their ability to trigger immunity. Protein subunit vaccines are already used for other diseases. An example of an existing protein subunit vaccine is that for hepatitis B.
How does the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine work? The Novavax vaccine uses a telling piece of the coronavirus: the notorious spike protein. On its own, the spike protein is harmless and cannot cause COVID-19. When your immune system encounters the lonely spike protein, it produces antibodies against it. This gives you protection against future COVID-19 infection.
Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?
No. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines do not change or interact in any way with your DNA.
Are long term side effects possible with the COVID-19 vaccine?
The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks Serious side effects that can cause a long-term health problem are extremely uncommon after any vaccine, including the COVID-19 vaccine.
How long has the mRNA vaccine been around?
mRNA vaccines have previously been studied for influenza, Zika, rabies and cytomegalovirus (CMV). As soon as the necessary information about the virus that causes COVID-19 was available, scientists began to design the mRNA instructions for cells to build the unique spike protein and an mRNA vaccine.
Is Novavax an mRNA vaccine?
Called Novavax, it’s a more traditional vaccine that uses moth cells and tree bark. Instead of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna) or a viral vector vaccine (Johnson & Johnson), Novavax is a subunit protein vaccine.
Can Novavax be used as a booster?
Currently, the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is only authorized as a two-dose primary series, so this cannot be used as a booster.
What COVID-19 vaccines are using mRNA technology?
The vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use mRNA to fight against COVID-19. When these vaccines were rolled out, it was the first time that mRNA was used on humans in vaccine technology. While the concept is new to the public, research has been going on since the early 1990s. What are mRNA vaccines? 2/11
Can Novavax be used as a booster?
Currently, the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is only authorized as a two-dose primary series, so this cannot be used as a booster.
Is the Novavax vaccine available?
Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, which will be available in the coming weeks, is an important tool in the pandemic and offers a more familiar type of COVID-19 vaccine technology for adults.
What makes Novavax COVID-19 vaccine different?
The Novavax vaccine trains the body to fight the coronavirus by providing copies of its outer coating, the spike protein. These spiked copies are grown in insect cells, purified and packaged into nanoparticles that resemble a virus to the immune system, said Novavax head of research Dr. Gregory Glenn.
How common is Paxlovid rebound?
Mayo Clinic researchers reported today in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases that less than 1% of patients at high risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 who were treated with paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) experienced a second bout of COVID-19.
What are some of the symptoms of BA 4 & amp; BA 5? The UK, where BA.4 and BA.5 infections also account for the majority of recent COVID cases, reported runny nose, sore throat, headache, persistent cough and fatigue as its most common symptoms last week.
Can COVID-19 symptoms rebound in rare cases after taking Paxlovid?
There have been reports of COVID-19 patients improving or even testing negative after taking Paxlovid, only to have symptoms flare up again a few days later. Rebound may occur as soon as four or five days after treatment, although symptoms may appear milder the second time around.
Does Paxlovid work against the COVID-19 Omicron variant?
8. Does Paxlovid work against Omicron? Paxlovids clinical trials took place before Omicron became dominant, but Pfizer says the drug works against the highly infectious variant.
What are some of the symptoms of the BA 4 and BA 5 variants of Covid-19?
The symptoms are consistent with those reported in the spring when the BA.2 subvariant was dominant in the country. According to the University of California Davis Health, the reported symptoms of BA.5 are similar to previous COVID variants: fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain and fatigue.
Does Paxlovid work against the COVID-19 Omicron variant?
8. Does Paxlovid work against Omicron? Paxlovids clinical trials took place before Omicron became dominant, but Pfizer says the drug works against the highly infectious variant.
What is the pill Paxlovid used for in COVID-19?
Paxlovid is an oral antiviral pill that can be taken at home to help prevent high-risk patients from becoming so ill that they need to be hospitalized. So, if you test positive for the coronavirus and a healthcare provider writes you a prescription, you can take pills at home and reduce your risk of going to the hospital.
Does Paxlovid make you feel better?
Paxlovid has been shown to be 88% successful in reducing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19 when taken early in the course of an infection.
How long does COVID-19 rebound usually last?
How long will a rebound last? In the cases described, rebound symptoms improved and/or positive tests became negative within 3 days for most people.
What is the typical time to recover from COVID-19?
Previous research has suggested that it can take 2 weeks for your body to get over a mild illness, or up to 6 weeks for severe or critical cases. Newer data shows that recovery varies for different people, depending on things like your age and overall health.
How long do COVID-19 antibodies last?
At this time, it is unknown how long antibodies persist after infection and whether the presence of antibodies confers protective immunity.
Why did the CDC among other reasons recommend the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
In December, the CDC recommended a preference for the two mRNA vaccines over J&J in response to concerns raised about a small but growing number of cases of a rare but serious clotting disorder in people who received the shot. .
How is Novavax COVID-19 vaccine different? While other vaccines trick the body’s cells into creating parts of the virus that can trigger the immune system, the Novavax vaccine takes a different approach. It contains the spike protein of the coronavirus itself, but formulated as nanoparticles, which cannot cause disease.
Why did the CDC among other reasons recommend the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
In December, the CDC recommended a preference for the two mRNA vaccines over J&J in response to concerns raised about a small but growing number of cases of a rare but serious clotting disorder in people who received the shot.
Are mRNA COVID-19 vaccines safe?
mRNA vaccines are safe and effective. mRNA vaccines have been held to the same strict safety and efficacy standards as all other types of vaccines in the United States.
Should I be concerned about having the J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
The FDA also attached a warning to the J&J vaccine in July after reports linked the vaccine to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. For both warnings, the agency said the incidence was very rare, and the benefits of the vaccine still outweighed the risks.
Should I be concerned about having the J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
The FDA also attached a warning to the J&J vaccine in July after reports linked the vaccine to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. For both warnings, the agency said the incidence was very rare, and the benefits of the vaccine still outweighed the risks.
Are there any life threatening side effects from the J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may cause thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. This is a blood clotting problem that can be life-threatening. As a result, the FDA restricts the use of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine to certain people 18 years of age and older.
Who is at higher risk of getting blood clots from the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine?
They are also more likely in women who are pregnant or on oral contraceptives, or in people who have hereditary diseases that predispose them to blood clots. As mentioned above, the clotting condition associated with the J&J vaccine is called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS).
Are mRNA COVID-19 vaccines safe?
mRNA vaccines are safe and effective. mRNA vaccines have been held to the same strict safety and efficacy standards as all other types of vaccines in the United States.
Is the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine safe?
Safety data from more than 298 million doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine administered in the first 6 months of the US vaccination program show that most reported adverse events were mild and of short duration.
Do COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have long-term effects?
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were created using messenger RNA (or mRNA) technology, which has been used in cancer treatment for about 10 years, with no long-term effects detected. And even before that, scientists have been working with mRNA technology for years. 3. mRNA technology does not change your DNA.
