The state Department of Health announced last week that a new vaccine, known as Novavax, has made its way to Hawaii to help protect against COVID-19.
Novavax is recommended for those who have not yet received a primary series of vaccinations.
“Novavax gives us another way to protect ourselves from COVID-19,” said Department of Health Director Elizabeth Char in statement. “Its arrival is great news for people who are allergic to an ingredient in the mRNA vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna, or those who, for whatever reason, have been reluctant to be vaccinated.”
Novavax is a two-dose primary series given three to eight weeks apart for those ages 18 and up. The DOH clarified the vaccine is not available as a booster for those who already have received another vaccine.
“Novavax has not been authorized for use as a booster,” DOH spokesperson Brooks Baehr said. “It is authorized for use as a primary series vaccine only.”
The vaccine is currently available at the Safeway Pharmacy in Kailua-Kona, and starting Monday, will be available at Kaiser Permanente locations in all counties for both members and nonmembers by appointment only.
Appointments can be made by contacting: (808) 432-2000.
The Big Island has three Kaiser locations: in Hilo on Waianuenue Avenue, in Waimea on Hawaii Belt Road, and in Kona on Honokohau Street.
Novavax is a protein subunit vaccine, which includes proteins from the COVID-19 virus that trigger an immune response. The same strategy has been used in the U.S. for over 30 years for the hepatitis B, whooping cough and shingles vaccines.
“We haven’t seen a big demand for Novavax,” Baehr said. “Should demand be greater than expected, we can order more doses of Novavax in the coming weeks.”
Vaccines being designed to target multiple COVID-19 variants, including the omicron BA.5 mutation, have not yet been authorized for use.
“It is possible bivalent vaccines may be authorized sometime in September,” Baehr said. “However, we recommend anyone eligible for a booster shot should get it now. We do not know who will be eligible for new bivalent vaccines. We have not yet seen data on the effectiveness of new bivalent vaccines.”
The Novavax vaccine arrived in conjunction with Thursday’s announcement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention easing guidelines and recommendations for unvaccinated individuals following exposure to COVID-19.
The new policy no longer recommends unvaccinated people quarantine after exposure, instead suggesting they mask up for 10 days and get tested five days after they were exposed.
On Wednesday, the DOH reported 369 new COVID cases and one new death for the Big Island, a man between the ages of 60-69 years old.
For Hilo’s 96720 ZIP code, there have been 266 new cases over the past 14-day period.
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.