Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned the vaccine just isn’t efficient.
Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned in a brand new interview that Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine just isn’t efficient, his first feedback since regulators missed a deadline to approve the shot.
The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) was speculated to resolve whether or not to grant Novavax’s license software by April 2, the Maryland-based firm has mentioned. The agency makes one of many three COVID-19 vaccines accessible in the USA, and the one one that doesn’t use messenger ribonucleic acid expertise.
The FDA has not mentioned why the deadline handed and not using a determination.
An official with the Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS), which Kennedy heads, beforehand informed The Epoch Instances in an electronic mail that “any delays to the FDA’s impartial overview course of for the Novavax are a results of scientific overview to make sure security and efficacy.” The FDA is a part of HHS.
Kennedy was requested within the new interview if the delay stemmed from a scarcity of personnel, after the departure of Dr. Peter Marks, amongst others. Marks led the FDA’s workplace in control of reviewing vaccines.
“We are literally shifting our priorities to a number of antigen vaccines. And NIH is already engaged on various these,” Kennedy mentioned, referring to a different HHS division, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being.
“We’ve got not but obtained an official response from the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration relating to the standing of our BLA,” the corporate mentioned.
The opposite two COVID-19 vaccines which might be cleared by the FDA are made by Moderna and Pfizer. Each are constructed on messenger ribonucleic acid expertise, or mRNA, platforms.
The FDA in 2024, in its most up-to-date motion on the vaccines, cleared up to date COVID-19 vaccines from all three producers, stating that older variations weren’t as efficient in opposition to newer COVID-19 strains. Novavax’s up to date shot obtained emergency authorization, versus approval.
Novavax shares dropped from $6.95 on April 9 to $5.12 on April 10, although the worth had partially rebounded to $5.61 on Friday.
