Frequently Asked Questions

The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted is an FDA-authorized protein-based vaccine. It’s available as a primary series for people 12 years of age and older and as a first booster for people 18 years of age and older who can’t get or don’t want an mRNA booster.

You can find vaccine centers in your area by visiting our Vaccine Finder.

The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted is a protein-based vaccine. It uses technology similar to what’s used in some vaccines for hepatitis B and the flu.

Protein-based vaccines use small pieces of the actual virus protein, which do not cause the disease. Our bodies then learn to recognize that protein as a foreign invader and attack it. This type of vaccine is often combined with an ingredient called an adjuvant, which may help enhance your body’s immune response. Protein-based vaccines have been used before to help protect against diseases such as hepatitis B and the flu.

No. The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted uses traditional, protein-based technology and is a non-mRNA option for those who choose not to get or can’t get an mRNA vaccine.

During a public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may allow the use of unapproved medical products, including vaccines, or unapproved uses of approved medical products to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions.

Before issuing an EUA, the FDA will evaluate and determine if all lawful criteria are met, including reviewing all scientific evidence about the vaccine that is available to the FDA. Learn more about the FDA’s EUA approval process here.

Novavax is a biotech company that focuses only on vaccines. They use innovative technology to help protect people around the globe from emerging infectious diseases.

Side effects that have been reported in clinical trials with the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted include myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart), injection site reactions (pain/tenderness, swelling, redness, and itching), fatigue or generally feeling unwell, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, allergic reactions such as hives and swelling of the face, and swollen lymph nodes. These may not be all the possible side effects. The vaccine is still being studied in clinical trials.

Yes. You can choose the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted as a first booster at least 6 months after completing a primary series with an authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.

Yes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines like the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted can be given at the same visit if you are due for both vaccines.

Yes. The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted was studied in people 65 years of age and older. The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted is given to people 12 years of age and older.

Yes. The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted is available as a primary series for people 12 years of age and older.

Yes. Adults who can’t get or don’t want an mRNA booster can choose the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted as a first booster dose no matter which primary vaccination they received. You can get a first booster dose at least 6 months after completion of a primary vaccination series with an authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. Getting a booster can help strengthen your protection against COVID-19, as the effects of your previous vaccine decrease over time.

No. Children under the age of 5 cannot get the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted. Safety and effectiveness in children younger than 12 years of age have not been established.

No. The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted is authorized for use as a primary series in people 12 years of age and older.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to discuss your options with your healthcare provider.

There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted during pregnancy. Women who are vaccinated with the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted during pregnancy are encouraged to enroll in the registry by visiting https://c-viper.pregistry.com.

You should not get the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted if you had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine or if you had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine.

The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted includes:

• A version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that was created in a lab
• The Matrix-M™ adjuvant, which contains an ingredient that comes from the bark of 
a Chilean tree. An adjuvant is an added ingredient that may help enhance your body’s immune response

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, and water for injection. The vaccine may also contain small amounts of baculovirus and insect cell proteins and DNA. The vaccine does not contain mRNA.

No. The vaccine does not contain preservatives and the vial stoppers are not made with natural rubber latex.

The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted contains a version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that has been produced in a lab. 

The spike protein helps create an immune response in your body. This helps protect you from getting sick with COVID-19 if you come across it in the future.

The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted will be given to you as an injection in the muscle.

• Primary series (ages 12+): The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted is administered as a 2-dose series, 3 weeks apart
• Booster dose (ages 18+): The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted may be administered as a first booster dose at least 6 months after completing primary vaccination with an authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine

No. The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted does not contain the virus that causes COVID-19.

There is a remote chance that the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted. For this reason, your vaccination provider may ask you to stay at the place where you received your vaccine for monitoring after vaccination.

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have occurred in some people who have received the vaccine. In most of these people, symptoms began within 10 days following vaccination.